Week 293

Positive post Sunday, October 2, 2022- Week 293.

Today marks the 2-year anniversary of my 3rd lease on life, surviving a horrific bicycle accident (See PPS Week 241). My family and close friends know that this was the second time in my life the good Lord decided it was not my time to go! To this day, I don’t know how I survived but I am certainly grateful for all those at LLUMC who cared for me and thankful for my family and friends who supported my recovery. Most importantly, I’m grateful to the Lord for giving me more time to proclaim his word, continue my life of service to others, and ultimately earn everlasting life.

Living through 2 life threatening experiences (heart surgery in 2006 and the bicycle accident on this date in 2020) has reminded me of how blessed I have been to have skilled first responders and health care professionals care for me, and the unconditional love and support of my family and friends. These experiences have also reminded me that life can be fragile and cut short at any time and therefore we should never take the many blessings we have or the people we love for granted.

Surviving life threatening illness and injury has also reminded me of the importance of planning and being prepared. We prepare for many things in life, or at least we talk about being prepared. Examples include, preparing for a baby, or nesting, preparing for a vacation, rehearsing for a play and practicing for a sports game. You have likely heard the saying, “Practice makes perfect.” As famed UCLA basketball coach John Wooden would say, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” You may also be familiar with the saying, “Talk is cheap.” Our challenge is turning the talk into action and planning and preparing for those unforeseen events that all of us will experience at some point in our lives.

Let’s take this challenge to a higher level. Understanding that the good Lord can call us home at any time, are our houses in order (and I don’t mean the building), are plans in place for our dependents to be taken care of, and most importantly are we living lives that prepare us for everlasting life? How are we practicing or rehearsing for our debut in Heaven? If God is preparing for us, should we not prepare to be with him?

How are you preparing for that glorious day when the good Lord calls you home?

If God were to bring you home today, would you be ready?