My wife and I just had the pleasure of watching the new movie, "The Bucket List." It features two men (played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) who have just been informed that they have a year left to live. That alone seems to be the only thing they have in common. One is very rich and alone while the other is middle class and surrounded by family. Both, however, are just as mortal. So in the movie these two men start a list of things to do before they "kick the bucket."
I read recently where you should ask your boss for a raise while standing next to him at the urinal because it is one place where all men are equal. Maybe so, but death is also the great equalizer. In this life many men spend their days quietly expiring of boredom a little at a time. Simply spending their lives doing what has to be done to "pay the bills."
They should read John Eldredge's book, "Wild At Heart." In his book, Eldredge speaks of the way that God made men and wired their hearts. He states that men desire to live a life of adventure and risk; to be the warrior, the hero and the rescuer of beautiful girls. But most especially, he says that men desire, to live their life based to a degree on instinct or gut reaction or put another way, to follow their heart.
He says too often the Christian church teaches men that to be proper churchmen, they must become wimps. He sites Jesus in the temple, King David, King Solomon and numerous other strong men who stood firm for principle and fought when needed. He speaks of living your life with meaning, passion, adventure, truth and beauty. Most of the items on the "bucket list" in the movie were all about those very things. I truly believe that God wants us all to choose to live a full, exciting, passionate and spiritual life. That is what free will is all about.
A year ago, I received several e-mails after posting my article entitled, "Mid Life Crisis," which was about my skydiving adventure. It was all about tossing a life of safety (and me) out the window. One man went so far as to accuse me of encouraging reckless behavior and asking if I was going to swim with sharks in the Great Barrier Reef for an encore. He even asked me how my wife would get along without me if something happened. (Obviously, he didn't read the entire story because my little wife jumped right after I did.) Most of the e-mails, however, were encouraging. I am even working on getting my third-class medical back and starting to fly again. It's not just flying again that I desire - but living again!
A few months ago, God had to remind me to take better care of myself and to get back on track. There is nothing like a good, old-fashioned, major heart attack to get you thinking about the things left to do in your life. I thank God every morning for the second chance He has given me. Reverend Dr. Pat Day said, "We should all get up every morning and say, 'Good morning Lord,' instead of, ,Good Lord, it's morning!'". Greet the new day and embrace all its possibilities.
Most people spend more time planning their television viewing schedule than they do planning their lives. Even though sometimes I am pretty certain that God finds amusement in our plans I feel they are necessary to make us think. Back in 2006, I attended a seminar that lasted several weekends focused on just that - crafting life plans. Just one of the things that I want to do is to travel and spend more time with my wife. I now plan several trips a year in advance and have them inked onto my new calendar by the end of January every year.
I encourage everyone to spend some time and to plan the rest of his or her life. Go away for a retreat. Spend some time in prayer and look deep into your heart. Just think back to when you were a little boy and remember what you dreamed about. What do you really want out of your life? No plan is perfect and you will probably have to make a few changes here and there along the way. But if we do not choose for ourselves, then we are allowing others to choose for us. If you just can not figure it out, drop me a line and I will try to help. Life rewards our actions, not our good intentions. So get started right now. Start your own bucket list. Be sure to include a little fun and adventure.
Life is a journey, not a destination.
Happiness is an inside job.
Larry LaBorde, Silver Trading Company
21 January 2008
