Life is short, eat dessert first!

​Or so our daughters chided me repeatedly when they were teenagers.  This is not a quirky story illustrating some facet of life.  Rather, an illustration of the unpredictable nature of our lives.
 
Around 7 AM yesterday we noticed a short news blurb stating 2 people had died overnight as a result of tornados in Nashville, TN area.  We have a son in Nashville, so Alan (DH) texted him to see how he fared.  Thankfully, neither he nor his house were directly impacted by the storm.  However, his estranged wife, had ‘nearly died’.  I’m not sure of the exact meaning of ‘nearly died’ and can only imagine how terrified she was.  In any case, our son went out to help her and others and returned home at 7 AM exhausted.   As the day went on, the death toll rose, current count is 25, and details of the destruction were publicized.  We chatted with our son later and he was devastated.  He had learned the path of the tornado started with in 1000 yards of his house and destroyed the establishment where he had been tending bar, killing two of his co-works. 
 
I know when our son arrived home from a hockey game shortly before the tornado hit, he had no idea he would lose two of his friends within a few short minutes.  I am sure the 25 people killed by the storm had no inkling their life would end yesterday.  The people who worked for U-haul, the corner gas station, the nail salon, YMCA Community Action and others did not conceive their lives blown topsy-turvy by a tornado.
 
I say all this to remind myself, and you, life is in fact short and unpredictable. Jesus told a parable about the end of a man who planned and hoarded for the future in Luke 12 starting in verse 13.  I will let you look it up for yourself.  We can plan and scheme but none of us can predict the next moments of our life.   James 4:13 - 15 tells us  ‘Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”’ 
 
So, make the most of the time at hand, love your family, be kind to your neighbors, share your stuff and your time with those around you and trust the Lord our God will be with you each and every moment of your life no matter how many or how few they are. 
 
 
Psalm 90 (ESV)
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust
    and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
    are but as yesterday when it is past,
    or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
    by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
    or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span[c] is but toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
    and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
    Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!