A Man Knows Not His Time…
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.
May 31st, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Denise, I was thinking about the same thing this week after hearing about J.R. Simplot’s death-here in Boise. It really makes me want to live on purpose for the Lord and raise my kids on purpose even more-because, of course, they are NO ORDINARY CHILDREN and I’m NO ORDINARY MOMMY!!! Thanks for all of your encouragement. You are such a blessing!
June 1st, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Yes I do the same thing when I hear about people dying! And I have on occasion perused the obituaries too. When I heard that the actor Heath Ledger had died, for days all I could think about was the verse that talks about man’s life being but a vapor. And the verse about storing up treasures in heaven and not here on earth. I shudder to think about the shock that many have when they stand before their Judge…and at the same time HOPE that maybe somehow in the days before they died they accepted the truth. And then I too am even more determined to “exercise myself toward godliness” so that I can be all that God has purposed for me to be. I think it is healthy to ponder such things - especially here in America where everything is comfy-cozy and the closest we get to death is the rare death of a loved one (very tragic - don’t want to minimize that) or TV/video games with way too much violence and unrealistic death. If we lived in a persecuted nation we would be face to face with death every day. It helps me to keep an eternal perspective when I allow myself to think about eternity and the judgment etc. in light of Scripture. Then the fact that there isn’t money in the budget for me to buy all of the things I think I can’t live without, I can remember that all of my possessions are going to burn and only what I did for Christ will last!
June 12th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I was just pondering this very thought this week. My grandma was just diagnosed with cancer and has an life expectancy of 3 months per the Dr. Also my dad is talking of retiring this year from his job, which he’s done for more than 30 years. I began thinking what is this life… When I die, what will be said… Will anyone remember 25 years later?… To whom will I have made a difference?
What ever the answer, I hope that I am at the very least pleasing God in all I do. No matter the aplause or lack of from people. No matter the cost - even to the death of my aspirations. This life is dust, the next is permenant! I want to have treasure that lasts.