Dear Friends,
We had a Memorial Service this past Sunday for a remarkable woman, Carolyn Bridger, who was well known and dearly loved within the music community here in Tallahassee, particularly at FSU, and many other places around the world. Carolyn was killed in a tragic car accident back in November. She lived such a rich and meaningful life and the testimony of family and friends gave evidence of that life so well lived. During the service I sat in the choir loft as about 50 singers, all FSU music alumni, sang two magnificent numbers. Surely this must be what heaven sounds like!
As I listened to the testimony of family, friends and colleagues. I thought of how Carolyn used her life and God-given talent to the fullest….every moment of her life. I don’t think she wasted a second of it and the world is a more beautiful, melodious place because of her.
Today I came across these words:
“One day consists of 86,400 seconds, each one containing countless options, possibilities and decisions of which only one can emerge. 86,400 seconds. This is one of them.
One week consists of 604,800 seconds.
One month 2,629,646 seconds.
One year 31,556,926 seconds.
One lifetime 2,366,820,000 seconds.
Each one contains countless options, possibilities and decisions of which only one can emerge.
Each have the ability to create one life and erase another.
One day consists of 86,400 seconds. This is one of them.”
So, my friends, what are you doing with the seconds of your life? We’re 14 days into a new year. I pray that we all will make the most of the seconds we are given.
Frederick Buechner tells about a great theologian who, when he was speaking on the subject of miracles, was asked to give a specific example of one. “There is only one miracle,” he answered. “It is life.” And then Buechner asked some relevant questions…good ones for us to ask ourselves at the beginning of this new year:
Have you wept at anything during the past year?
Has your heart beat faster at the sight of young beauty?
Have you thought seriously about the fact that someday you are going to die?
More often than not do you really listen when people are speaking to you instead of just waiting for your turn to speak?
Is there anybody you know in whose place, if one of you had to suffer great pain, you would volunteer yourself?
If your answer to all or most of these questions is No, the chances are that you’re dead.
Thanks for sharing some of the seconds of your life to ponder some of my ponderings today. Have a joy-filled day!
You are loved,
Wayne