Friday's thoughts

Is there something about the way we live our lives or face our death? Is there something unique about our living and our dying or are we just like anyone else who holds fast to another point of faith or to no faith at all?

Does it make any difference what we believe in terms of how we live? If it doesn't then what good is the faith we hold? If our faith bears no consequence to our outlook then we might question if we have an operative faith or a nominal faith?

It seems to me it does make a difference what we believe in terms of how we live and how we face the end of our lives? Circumstances will dictate much about this, of course. What I will try to offer is general and will have to be applied to each of us by the advent of time and by the issuance of the diversity of our context.

I think the Christian faith calls for us to be bold in how we come to terms with our dying. I think there is for us no burden of fear; we die knowing that death is part of life and that we can find the courage to face it and, as a consequence we feel compelled to live our lives, with an intensity and purpose that counts every day as precious, every relationship as sacred, and every moment as full of potential.
I think the Christian faith calls for us to live in service for others knowing that we are gifted in order that we might share our gifts. Where there is something that needs to be faced we are prepared to face it and when it is broken we are called to repair it.

There is passion in our living. There is purpose in our reaching out in giving. We are invested in this world but we are not afraid to leave it.

That's how it can be; that's how it's supposed to be. We don't always live up to the ideal but we do live with the fact of death, and we live with the faith of people who know that life is intended to have meaning for us and for all in whom we come in contact.

Do you have thoughts on this subject? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your insights with others readers click on the box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles