Gone!
Sounds like something else should be there, but then that says it all.
Opened the paper yesterday, and while flipping past the obituary page, a picture popped out at me. The face was unmistakable. A man many of us knew, was gone.
Bill was a manager for the Pinole Radio Shack store. Over the years (can't remember how many) we had talked about his open heart surgery and his foibles with Radio Shack. At one time, they had him managing three stores, simply because he was the best.
What first got my attention about Bill was the smile, always on his face. Then, there was the almost instant knowledge about where something was in the store.[more] You describe it or show him a picture, and he would say something like "over on the second aisle, about halfway down and about your belly button height…"
He chided those young guys and gals who worked in the store about learning what was there and where it was. Many times, I went to Radio Shack and spent more time talking to Bill about life and his health than I did buying whatever it was that had taken me to the store.
After Pastor Dave's "30 Days" series, it draws me up a little short. Not that he died, but Bill's age – only 58. Whenever someone younger than me dies, I start to appreciate the fact that I got another day. But the real question is "what have I done with that day?" Have I touched any lives to the point where it makes any difference, or am I just wasting precious minutes on nothing? Have I given, rather than taken?
Life has more meaning than "fun". We were put here for a purpose – more like a whole bunch of purposes. Major one is that we make a difference by living our lives so that others can see the "Light" in us and want to have some of it for themselves. Our lives should be building up others – making their lives better, rather than tearing down. Bringing joy – not sadness.
Every day is a gift. A gift that is an opportunity to share the one who came in love and gave His life to rescue us all. A gift to share what God has given me, through whatever way He gives me to share it. I'm thankful for today – every minute of it. Sure hope I live it that way!