Life

So I was in a fender-bender the other day...or should I say I was in a near death experience car accident. Well who's to say how close to death I was because I walked away with hardly a scratch. But I was seconds, nay milliseconds away from being creamed by a SUV in my little '98 Altima. The other driver ran a red light and hit my car above the driver's side tire flinging my car around much like my son plays with his cars but mine didn't fare so well. It was totalled.

The title of this post is 'Life' for a reason. Because of this accident I have a new outlook on said life. I realize that at any moment it can be taken away. In a flash I can go from being the breadwinning teacher-coach-father-husband-son-brother to...nothing. I have thought several times since the accident what would my wife do? How would she handle it? To be honest she's a real trooper. To put up with my shenanigans and deal with my intrinsic self she deserves a medal or something. But seriously, what would she do? Raise three kids on her own? Move closer to her folks? I don't want to think anymore about it but you see where a fella could get real bound up thinking about his own demise.

I appreciate life more. Not to say that I never did before but I realize that I am not promised tomorrow (James 4:14). I should eat, drink, and be merry (Ecclesiastes 2:22-26 and Dave Matthews). I should enjoy my kids while they're young. Make memories together. Live life.

What has also helped me think about living is Donald Miller's latest book which I got for Father's Day this year. I actually bought it myself but allowed my wife to present it to me on Father's Day. I can be a little picky so it's better if I just pick it out myself and then she can give it to me and I can act suprised. It's better than the alternative, I guess. Anyway, it's really a good read and it is teaching me that I just need to live in the moment, so to speak. Not to throw caution to the wind and never plan or work hard but to enjoy what I'm doing. It's all about living a better story and making memories and not just waking up, going to work, coming home and then doing it all over tomorrow. At least that's what I'm getting out of it. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to folks my age. I have a steady paycheck. I am living comfortably. I have my 2.5 kids (actually we were blessed to round that up to 3). I seem happy on the outside but am I really living?

So my challenge to you (and really to myself) is to wake up tomorrow and LIVE.