Sunday, November 30, 2014

The Kindness of an Important Reminder

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
~ John Wooden

Sometimes we just need to be reminded about what is important, about truths that we can easily forget in the hustle and bustle of the every day. 

Today I read an article about a Maryland father and blogger in his early 40s.  Diagnosed with lung cancer, he faces limited time on earth with his wife and his two children, who are four and six years old.

In a blog post in June, he announced that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.  He also shared an "epiphany" that he had four years ago driving home after a vacation where he couldn't really have a good time because he was obsessing about things he had to do.

He wrote:

"I realized I had been experiencing the biggest tragedy of human existence: I was having the time of my life, and I didn't even know it. 

"That was a good day, since once you make that decision, man... You're in Heaven every single second of your life.  And it went on and on, and things only got better, because I made a conscious decision one summer day, on the drive home from Bethany Beach, and was able to repeat that decision subconsciously from that moment on.  It made the difference between a living Hell, where I was always behind, always unhappy, and always unfulfilled -- always a step behind on my writing, my relationship with my wife, with friends, and with my kids, and a living Heaven, where even if I had wanted more out of life, I always knew I had it all.

"I believe in Heaven on Earth, and I believe it's found anywhere you seek it."

I appreciate the kindness of that reminder.  It nudged me to enjoy my own little slice of heaven when my son asked to "snuggle wuggle" before he fell asleep.

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