Seth Barnes Aug 30, 2008 8:00 PM

How do I prepare for death?

A lot of death out there lately - have you noticed?  How ironic that the guy who wrote 100 Things To Do Before You Die just died of a fall in his hom...

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A lot of death out there lately - have you noticed?  How ironic that the guy who wrote 100 Things To Do Before You Die just died of a fall in his home.  A number of our Racers are struggling with tragedy lately.  And in our AIM family, Lambert Royal is fighting for his life at the hospital.

I like Paul's perspective.  He says, "Oh death where is thy sting?"

 

We live these fragile lives yet stiff-arm the prospect of death.  To fail to live in light of eternity is to trifle with God. Henri Nouwen was a melancholy philosopher whose thoughts on preparing for death always stir me.  Here's what he says about getting ready to meet your maker.

Death often happens suddenly. A car accident, a plane crash, a fatal fight, a war, a flood, and so on. When we feel healthy and full of energy, we do not think much about our deaths. Still, death might come very unexpectedly.

How can we be prepared to die? By not having any unfinished relational business. The question is: Have I forgiven those who have hurt me and asked forgiveness from those I have hurt? When I feel at peace with all the people I live with, my death might cause great grief, but it will not cause guilt or anger.

When we are ready to die at any moment, we also are ready to live at any moment.

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