Life

It seems like life has a way of showing up and smacking me in the face. Circumstances appear that cause me to rethink what I believe about God, my purpose or maybe even question why I am really here.

This past week was a week of loss for me. I lost a friend that was young (42) and vibrant and full of passion for life. She lived it well and was an survivor of cancer as well as a mom that loved her kids and family like crazy. She passed out at the gym one day, was in a coma from there on out until she finally slipped away almost 2 months later. Her family spent day after day reading and singing and loving on her as her eyes were closed and she laid still. Family reported that she would occasionally be found with a tear streaming down her cheek as her children would say goodbye for the day. She could hear them. She knew they were there but her brain was not willing to let her respond. Watching this scenario progress each day tugged at my heartstrings. This was my friend, someone I laughed with and hugged and shared experiences in life with. Someone I trusted my heart with and knew would speak truth when I needed to hear it. Someone with a great love for people - who wanted to help them achieve their dreams and goals. It gave her joy to serve. On the day of her viewing, 800 people were in attendance to give their condolences to her family. 800 PEOPLE! That wasn't the funeral - that was just a viewing. This woman impacted peoples lives and it made me take a look at how I am living mine and the choices I make. Am I living authentically from my heart? Am I speaking my mind when I have something to say? Am I giving of my time and resources to others - or am I all about my own comfort and small world? Watching a friend live life so fully one day and then be gone the next was one of those wake up moments, the reminders that come to us from time to time that say, "Hey - are you living life and embracing love?" "Are you telling the people you love - that you really do care?" "Are you pursuing the dreams that make you come alive - the ones you were created to live out?" These have been my ponderings the past two weeks. I don't want to waste my breaths. I don't know how many I have left. All I know is that I have been given life to live it. I choose to live it now. What are you choosing today?