Any minute now we will all be dead. I know it’s a bit morbid. But death provides context for life, and those who reflect on death for even just sixty seconds each day are significantly less likely to waste their lives.
Welcome back to Best Christmas Ever! Where we are exploring 28 Ways to Make this Your Best Christmas Ever!
#3 is… Reflect on the shortness of life. The Roman philosopher and statesman Seneca wrote, “Most mortals complain bitterly because we are born for a brief span of life.” He went on to explain that life is shortest for those who waste it, and the brutal truth is that we have all invented our own intricately personalized ways to waste portions of our one short life.
Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computers said in his commencement speech at Stanford, “For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: If today was the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something… almost everything. All external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure–these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.”
Life is short. You are dead an awful long time. What is truly important?
Think of it this way. What can you take with you from this life to the next? I don’t mean things. Reflect on your day yesterday, of everything you did yesterday, what would you feel comfortable bringing with you to the next life and laying at the feet of God as an offering.
Do something today that you can take with you into eternity.
Matthew Kelly
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