This has been an emotional week as a pastor and a person. Pastor Todd and I sat with two women who many would call “Saints of the Church” who were nearing death. It makes you think, and it makes everyday things seem somewhat profound.
God gives each one of us life and breath and numbers our days on this earth. But each of us gets to decide how we spend our life. There are big important decisions of course like education, careers, marriage etc. But life is also created by many small choices that add up as time passes.
Daily you decide what kind of person you want to be. Will you keep spiritually healthy habits like Scripture reading and prayer? Will you keep physically healthy habits like exercise and eating well? Will you keep emotionally healthy habits like speaking positively to yourself and others? Will you be open to learning new things? Will you be kind and inclusive of all types of people?
There is a quote I like by St. Therese of Lisieux. She said, “Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what You want me to be and becoming that person.”
Decisions feel overwhelming to me at times. I can overcomplicate or overthink something that should be simple. Maybe that is why seeing someone face death makes us pause and think. Because at that point life gets pretty simple. We see what is important and what isn’t.
It makes me think of Micah 6:8 –
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly[a] with your God.
Learning to live what matters,
~ Pastor Cindy