Recently, my Dad, daughter, and I were watching an old western movie, “Lonesome Dove”. There’s a line in it where the two main characters are talking about death. There is a disagreement of perspectives on the topic under discussion, and its evident that one of the friends isn’t quite getting the point… so his friend says, “It’s not dying here I’m talking about… IT’S LIVING!”

Today, a friend from High School passed away. While he was a few years older than me, his death so puts life into a whole new approach. I’ve been to many funerals of those older than I, and an occassional one of someone younger that tragedy took. Now I know that I will begin eventually the portion of life where those that are close to me, leave, with the eventual leaving of earth myself. I know where I will be going, and thankfully will get to see all those who have gone before “who have kept the faith, and ran a good race!”

The perspective that all this brings can be sobering, but at the same time energizing. There is a saying from a movie, “We live and we die by time. And we must not commit the sin of losing our track on time.” (Can you tell me what movie?) So let’s look at ways of making the most of the time we have left…

Realize that time is not unlimited! Some say its a sin to squander something that is of a limited value. Regrettably we don’t know exactly the length of our life, and I’m thankful we don’t. We would live with morbid dread. Too often we live with reckless abandon not counting the time that we do have.

Have A Plan! Surprisingly most people don’t realize they are exaclty where they want to be in life. They are at the point of life that they have chosen, and that they accept. If you plan for nothing, you are bound to find it. Plan. Write it down. Make a list. Deliberate it. Meditate it, and make it exactly what you want. If its going to take a number of steps, be specific in that as well. Why would you live your life any different than you drive a car. Know where you want to go, instead of getting in the car, wasting all of your resources, and finding yourself in a place you didn’t want to be.

Don’t settle for less that what you want! ALWAYS remember the golden rule when applying the don’t settle for less… do unto others AS YOU WOULD have done unto you. As long as your desires don’t contradict God, good values, and others…. GO FOR IT – EXACTLY AS YOU WANT IT! How many have you known that goes to a car lot, and settles for a car of a different color, make, accessories, or options from what they wanted. Those people always kick themselves later and live in the “valley of regret” instead of the “mountain of possession”

Take Action! As I heard, and now like to say… when all the talking is over, “Shut Up! Grow Up! and Show UP! In other words… get busy, the clock is ticking!