My Personal Blog Post and Journal
July 09, 2014, Wednesday, 828 a.m.
QUESTION: WHAT IF I DIED TOMORROW, WHAT WILL I HAVE WANTED TO DO TODAY?
Over the last couple of days, a theme has repeated itself in my mind and in my life. It's through thinking the thought of: If I were to die tomorrow, what will I have wanted to accomplish today?
What's interesting is how it isn't any of my top five or even ten priorities that surprised me. In fact, the obscure things I would want to accomplish today, if I die tomorrow, didn't even make my priority list, but now I realize they should have.
The things I want to accomplish today, include what I am already doing, and are part of my top priorities. They are natural for me to do. I cannot rip to do them. (Be with God and hubby, journal, write, read, and be in contact with family and friends.) But, there are a few obscure ones which surprised me when I asked myself the if I were to die tomorrow, what will I want to accomplish today question.
The surprises were not ones I expected at all. In fact, one is brand new to me and one, I've been doing all along, but it's taken on new meaning to me.
One is reading the Classics, which I have started to do and have started a blog about that.
But, the other is giving. Giving to charity, that is.
Interesting that these two things came to mind. No. I definitely didn't expect those to make my Bucket List. That being said, both make great sense to me.
GIVING
Years ago, my family determined we had everything we needed. So, for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, rather than buy things for each other, we would apply whatever money we would have spent on the presents and give it to charity. Then, we could just enjoy one another and not have it be about gifts.
My husband and I decided years ago if he received any raises or cost of living adjustments, we would take at least half of it and add it to what we were already giving to charity. The other half went in to savings or we gave it all to charity. No... A raise has never meant an increased standard of living to us. A raise means we have more to give, not spend.
We are not rich. We have bills. We don't have the fanciest house, or the biggest--and the same could be said about our cars and wardrobe. We would rather do without and give. Not everyone has had the same advantages as we have had. Every now and then, a person needs a hand up, but not a hand-out. Never mind how if every American gave to charity, no government assistance would ever be needed nor national health care.
Giving matters.
If you can't afford to give money, give your time and volunteer somewhere.
Also, just like with savings, if you start with taking out $5 per paycheck for a month, then $10, then $15, and keep building it to your desired amount, you learn how to get by with less.
Giving is a definite, physical reminder it isn't all about me, myself, and I.
Giving saves lives and changes lives.
Giving matters.
Over the weekend, we took some time to analyze what organization we are giving our money to and have made some adjustments. We’ve taken the stance that we do not want to give to any organization that receives governmental funding of any kind. After all, they do not really need our money. Also, we have taken a look at how much their top people make. We believe that just because you make a lot of money as a non-profit organization, it doesn’t mean you should pocket a lot of money. The money is best served in the organization, not in one’s pocket. Plus, if their pockets are full, they are not as needy in our money as other organizations.
So, we are making our donations count the absolute most. Our giving is going to those who really, really need it, not just want it. (A need is the matter of life and death. A want is just a desire.)
Consequently, we made the adjustments immediately in our bank account so the ones we have chosen receive the giving amount we have dedicated to them.
Knowing this helps me to think that if I die tomorrow, I died with this in my mind and in my heart. But, even more so. I died acting on it. A thought never acted on benefits no one.
This allows me to die in peace—knowing when I face the throne of God and He asks me to hold my actions accountable, I will know this. The very things I needed and wanted to do, in His name and for His glory, not mine, I did.
OBSCURE PRIORITIES BECOME MAJOR PIECES OF MY LIFE STORY
This is a story within my Life Story. It is actually a major one. It’s not what I expected and sure surprised me to realize how much this means to me—not for myself but for those who receive the benefit of my giving. They deserve this, not me. It’s about them—not about me.
Also, reading the Classics is an obscure priority that has become high on my list.
How often have I focused on the major life challenges, thinking those have influenced my life in great and mighty ways, but in hindsight, it simply isn’t the case at all. At the time, the major life challenges became the big ticket item and rendered a great deal of my attention. At the time, the obstacles changed the course of my life in mighty ways, I will not deny. But, as far as the overall Life Story Picture, the Big Picture, the major challenges and obstacles are actually smaller stories within my Life Story.
It’s the smaller, more obscure things that become the more important facets of my Life Story and the bigger stories that have help make me who I am, how I live, and how I will live in the future. It’s not the big stuff. Hindsight shows a much bigger picture. Every day I am reminded of this. (Yes. Every day—as long as I am intentional about thinking and capturing my Life Story.)
I would not realize this if I hadn’t first done my best to capture all of my stories that create my Life Story. If I hadn’t journaled and thought about my life, I would not have been able to put it together. This is why it’s important to journal every single day, so I do not lose the small details that become major players later in my Life Story.
Let me give you an example to show how we can so easily miss the smaller and more important details.
My husband, B, and I go to Historic Jamestowne every four weeks or less. (I will talk a great deal more about this later.) As we walk from the Visitor’s Center to the fort, we have to walk over this metal and cement walkway that takes across a swamp. The swamp is what you imagine: smelly, ugly at first glimpse, and doesn’t seem very exciting. And, as we watch as several people pass us, we know what they are missing.
As they hurry across this swamp and mess, they are illustrating what we do in real life. We get so focused on the muck and mire that we try to hurry through it, but as we do, we have blinders on. We refuse to look around, out of fear that what we experience may be worse. It’s a swamp, for goodness sake.
However, we forget to look around as we go through the muck and mire. We try to hurry through. And, we miss the beauty that can be found there. Great and marvelous beauty, let me add.
Every single time, B and I see beauty as we pass the ugly, smelly swamp. There are two different types of turtles, snakes, frogs, deer, beavers, muskrats, osprey, bald eagles, raccoons, mockingbirds, and a heron. Because B and I slow down through the muck and mire, and go against our inclination, we see such wondrous beauty and the majesty of God’s creation.
And, all those people, in their hustle and bustle of life, wanting to hurry through the ugly patches of life, and they miss the beauty all around, if only they would slow down and see the beauty.
Now, here’s another example.
B and I go to Virginia Beach from time to time. Picture the beach. Hundreds of people (maybe thousands), shoulder to shoulder, doing what you do at the beach. Swim, catch the rays, body surfing, play volleyball or catch, or even do gymnastics, plus rollerblading, running, and riding a bike.
Do you know how many times B and I have seen dolphins swimming and frolicking as we walk along the pier or the beach? Tons. And, do you know how many people we’ve seen stop and notice the dolphins? Few. Most of the time I would say five to ten see the dolphins of the hundreds there.
Again, people are so involved in life that they forget to look around and see beyond themselves. They miss the finer, smaller, and more important details through the busyness of life.
And, one more example.
B and I drive past this place in which most of the time, we will see deer and sometimes wild turkeys. Our heads turn and look at them every single time. In fact, as we drive, we’re looking for them. Do you know how many others do the same? Few.
Have I driven the point home? Granted, these are all critter example, but they provide a real point for us to focus on. Do not get so involved in life, or in rushing through the muck and mire, that you forget to look around and find the beauty in the smaller details.
B and I are far more moved by the smaller, finer, points of beauty than anything else. We know to slow down and look around and be observant. We are changed from the smaller things far more than with the big stuff. This is who we are and defines us and our Life Stories.
How about you? What have you missed?
Case and point: Look in the image above. Do you see all of the beauty in that one picture. Look carefully. Sunrise, birds soaring, and dolphins.
(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease 2014.)
