Castaway

Lost at sea.  Alone on an island.  Separated from everything you know and understand.  Presumed dead.  Lost.

Do you remember the movie Castaway? Tom Hanks played a character who, like much of America, is a bit too consumed with work to have time for real life.  Its not that he does not notice life happening around him, but, hey the job has demands.  He is whisked away from his love, his soon to be fiancée’, on Christmas Eve for more travel with work.

It is here that I think we need to stop and ponder.  Sure, it’s a mind bender to consider what we would have done.  Could I have survived?  Would I have been able to open the coconut?  Would I have been as resourceful with the ice skates?  Could I have dealt with the physical challenges?

But that is really beyond us.  It is a bit too much to grasp.  So here is the thought that gives me pause.  Am I living my life knowing that I could be one short trip away from major life change?  Am I living my life as if tomorrow is not promised to me?

When I leave my wife and children each day or when they leave me, can I stand back knowing that they have had my best?  Each day we are promised nothing, but like Tom Hank’s character, we never think about that fact.  We assume that, like his character says “I’ll be right back.”

Jesus told us to live life holding on to nothing. In fact, he tells us to deny our lives, giving them to God for His use.  It is in that mindset that I can love my children extravagantly, spend time with my friends in joyous celebration of them and adore my wife to the fullest extent.  If I know that my life is God’s and thus, all of what might drive me (even some religious dreams and motivations) falls by the wayside for the things that are truly important.

Jesus demonstrated as much when he, time and time again, turned away from the adoring masses to spend time with His Father, his close friends and the outcasts.  He was so at peace that he could stop to chat for what may have been a long time at a well, eventually transforming the life of an outcast woman.

So often we just race through life, ignoring or giving short shrift to the ones that we should be pouring our lives into.  Next time you get that page into work or you think about pushing for more overtime, think back to CastAway.  Perhaps, this time, you can just drop what you are doing and go play ball with your son or daughter and enjoy the life of the unhurried, centered in God.

http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=numinous&o=1