Wasted Life?
January 25th, 2008 | by tom |
You wake up in the morning for work. Your wife is still sleeping so you be quiet as not to wake her. You quietly hop in the shower. Brush your teeth. Shave. Get your son dressed and ready for school. Eat a little breakfast. And then off to take your son to school, and off to work. But after you drop your child off at school you get into an automobile accident and you are killed instantly.
I know this sounds like a gruesome story of sorts and are probably thinking what kind of twisted mind does this guy have. But the reality of it is, that this sort of thing happens all the time. We see it on the news, we read it in our newspapers, online. We may have even had to experience it ourselves. We just plainly don’t know when our time is.
I unfortunately think of this quite frequently. I think about how my family is going to be supported financially when I am gone. I wonder how my son would grow up without a father (And I know how many do). And then I sometimes wonder if me dying would even matter to some. Or if my mark, meant anything to anyone.
This is the point to my post…
Do you ever wonder what the world would be like without you? Have you made the mark on it that God has appointed you to do? God tells us to be a vessel for him so that others would come to know him. Is that what we are really thinking as we wake up everyday and head off to work?
I am far off the mark in which God has instructed us to be at. It all boils down to Love… Are we loving people the way that we should? And I don’t mean donating a small portion of our time to the food kitchen or helping with summer VBS. Although those are great things and I believe those are major tools in building the Kingdom. I’m talking about taking the time to listen, learn, laugh, explore. Taking the time to visit with your children and engulf yourself into their dreams and ideas. Taking the time to listen to your spouse and thoroughly understand what kind of emotion that instance may bring her. Really feel. Listening to a friend or co-workers struggle with life and not just blowing him off. This is the kind of thing I think Jesus was trying to tell us. We can just glide through life and miss so much and never experience the beauty of the things and people that God has placed around us.
This is one of my greatest fears. That my placement on earth by my Father would be wasted, of sorts. And not used for it’s purpose of benefiting and growing His Kingdom.
but this was an AWESOME post honey! And AMEN to all of it. I want so much...
By Monica on Feb 8, 2008
Hi Tom and Jodi Brager. You may have seen me from Micah’s blog. I hope you don’t mind me coming here to chat. Did you just create a new blog because the archive doesn’t show anything before January?
I often hear pastors say that their biggest fears are basically not making a difference in the kingdom of God. Rest assure that you guys are. Can you imagine the impact you’d make if people like me were exposed to the wisdom and knowledge that you guys provide, what that would do? Your influence could carry on into another person’s ministry.
My husband’s called to ministry, which I am horribly frightened of. We still have a long ways to go. In the meantime, my goal is to gather as much knowledge and wisdom as I can before that time comes. That’s why I enjoy reading what experienced ministers have to say.
It’s really helpful to us.
Sincerely,
Monica
By Tom Brager on Feb 8, 2008
Monica-
You are absolutely welcome here. And thanks for the encouraging words…
Yes, we are new to the blogging world. Thanks to my good friend John Stickley we have these awesome websites. And we of course, are still learning the ropes.
We really felt like this was a way that we could encourage and challenge not only ourselves, but other believers also.
I also can totally relate to your fear of the unknown. But I can assure you that this step of faith and obedience will not be alone.
God Bless You Guys