I’m in the midst of reading Francis Chan’s Crazy Love ~ a book I began last year until life got in the way. This time, though, it’s part of a small group bible study which really lends itself to delving in and dissecting; reflecting and contemplating. Normally, I’m a quick reader; probably because I have so many books in line, but I’m finding this is really a book that mandates slow and deliberate absorption… at least if you’re going to get anything out of it.
The chapter we discussed tonight was about death. The very inevitability that we will all die and what our regrets might be should that day come with the next sunrise. For me, that was like opening a flood gate. Where to start? There are the very big regrets and the small transgressions but if I were able to have those precious moments with the people I love in my final hours, the things that come to mind are these:
- Don’t waste another second of your life without being blessed with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s more than ritualistic church attendance; it is what sustains you. When you have it, life takes on new meaning.
- Go out of your way for people ~ be inconvenienced even.
- Don’t allow yourself to be pulled away from your faith…by friends, by family, or by circumstances. Hold on tightly to what you believe in. Don’t compromise.
- Don’t let fear and anger be what drives you. Instead, adopt a spirit of conviction and hope. That one thing, alone, will bring light to your dark days.
- Love one another. Love despite the flaws, wounds and scars. Give love wherever possible.
- Forgive. Be “all in” with your forgiveness. It’s a powerful and beautiful gift.
- Apologize when you offend or hurt ~ even when it was unintentional.
- Honor your commitments.
I am guilty and regretful of each of these at different times of my life…many times over.
Francis Chan takes it one step further and asks “What can you do to change this today?”. If these are some of my biggest regrets, why wouldn’t I make a move right this second to live my remaining days differently?
Habit? Poor excuse. There is no excuse for living as though we are promised tomorrow. That’s actually a very arrogant assumption on our part. I can start honoring my commitments today and forgiving my enemies, for example, or I can choose to live the same way and have a nice little regret that was never remedied.
What about you? Can you change even one of your regrets before it’s too late?