This morning I was reading in the Bible and the following verse caused me to ponder about life. This verse is in James 4:14:
…For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
As I read this verse in the Bible, I thought about Jacob in the Book of Mormon when he wrote at the end of his life in Jacob 7:26:
…the time passed away with us and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream…
As I reflected on life and the meaning of life, I also thought about a recent professor from Carnegie Melon who has been giving lectures recently called “The Last Lecture.” He has been diagnosed with cancer and has 3 – 6 months to live. He was recently interviewed on Good Morning America. The interview is included below:
For his full presentation that he gives, you can watch it here:
As he states and as James and Jacob state in the scriptures, life goes by quickly. As seen in the video, he talks a lot about achieving our dreams and our goals. If you notice, he focuses a lot on helping others. Let’s take some time today and reflect on our dreams and how we would treat those around us and act as if today is the last day.
One excersize I’ve seen before is to write down the things that you would want to be known for after you are gone and strive each day to reach that goal. Here’s an example:
I want to be known for loving God, loving and respecting others including my family, friends, and all people. I want to be known as someone who was honest in business and respectful towards people of all races, religion, and nationalities. I would like to be known as someone who didn’t give up on a good cause and who perservered through adversity. Someone who smiled and laughed often and who made others feel comfortable and at ease. I would like to be known as someone who inspired others through the things I read, talked about, and did. At the end of my days, I’d like to enter in the kingdom of the Lord as he says “well done, thou good and faithful servant….”
Try writing one for yourself. It’s a good experience. After you write it, take time to think about it often.
4 comments
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July 2, 2008 at 1:42 pm
spektator
For my 22 year old niece, June 27th was her last day to live. Driving up to see her husband with her 7 month old son in the car seat, she came around a curve and met a dump truck head on. She was flown to U of U Medical Center but the team of doctors were not able to save her. Her son is recovering but has multiple injuries.
I am reminded again that none of us know the day nor the hour when we will be called from this mortal existence.
We all mourn that passing of a young vibrant life but then go on with our daily routine. This post came to mind as I pondered the seemingly arbitrary amount of time any of us have in this realm.
How would I answer your challenge? I seek to be a known as a ‘penitent and humble seeker of happiness’ to borrow a phrase from Alma.
In a broader perspective, those things that we can take with us through our days and beyond are only those things we give to others. As we give of our time, our encouragement, our love, we create that legacy of which you speak. As we share our happiness with others we leave something of value that carries on forever.
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July 2, 2008 at 3:33 pm
ama49
Spektator,
Thank you for sharing this personal story with me. What a sad story and my heart goes out to her husband, child, and their family.
Thank God for the belief and faith we have that we can see one another again someday.
My heart and prayers go out to them, even though I don’t know them.
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July 2, 2008 at 9:15 pm
spektator
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It is a difficult thing to deal with the passing on one so young. Her son will never know the woman who brought him into the world but through pictures and the memories of others
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January 27, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Adam Alban
I will do it all.
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