Call me weird, but I love reading the OBITUARIES section of the newspaper. While perusing our local paper recently, I discovered that Irvine Robbins of Baskin-Robbins ice cream fame, went on to his reward earlier this month. You might even have had a double scoop of Irvine’s genius over the holiday weekend! (our absolute favorites are Jamoca Almond Fudge and Peanut Butter Chocolate – I burned out on the Pralines and Cream years ago) Irvine grew up in Tacoma, Washington, scooping cones in his family’s ice cream store. But he had a bigger vision, and after serving in the armed forces, he and his brother-in-law-turned-business-partner Burton Baskin, invested themselves into Irvine’s crazy idea that “somebody ought to open a store that sold nothing but ice cream and do it in an outstanding way.” We all know the end of the story, but did you know that his son, John, rejected the family business and in 1987 wrote Diet for a New America, a book critical of the meat and dairy industries? See what you can learn in the OBITS section?!
The same day I also read an interesting piece about the passing of a high profile waitress from our city, whose diligence, charm, humor and lively personality paid off handsomely, but whose private life was apparently a mess. Sad.
Upon perusing the OBITS, I’m most often left with the sobering reality of eternity. “Did they know Jesus?” “Did anyone tell them the truth?” “Would they do it the same way all over again?” “Who’s next to go?” are questions that swim in my head.
Then it gets real personal. “What will I be remembered for?” “Were my days spent wisely?” “Did I fulfill my destiny?”
The average person’s life contains about 25,500 days on this planet, but of course we’re all believing for more! (and everyone said, “AMEN!”) It’s uncomfortable to ponder such things, and most Americans probably don’t. Reading the Obituaries reminds me of what’s true, what’s not, what’s important, what’s not, what life is really all about and what my lifestyle priorities should be. May our lives be lived worthy of our Savior’s ultimate sacrifice.
