There's no "mid-life" in
eternity
Annette Bridges
from
www.spirituality.com
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I’m almost 50. Half a
century. For 21 years of my life, I focused on raising my only
child. Then she graduated from college, married and moved to another
state. Some people experience mid-life crises at this stage of
life—I know I started thinking things I’d never thought about
before.
I began to wonder how much time I had left to spend with my own
mother. I began to think about the death of loved ones and even my
own demise. I thought about all the dreams I let fade away.
Then I heard a song that got me thinking in a new way.
Live "like
tomorrow was a gift"
If you’re a country music fan like I am, you’ve no doubt heard Tim
McGraw’s hit song, “Live like you were dying.” The song encourages
listeners to live "like tomorrow was a gift" and make the most out
of the present.
The song asks, “You got eternity to think about what you do with
it—What should you do with it?"
This question really caught my attention. So as the song
mentions, I "read the Good Book"—yes, the Bible. And other good
books too, as I began to ponder the idea of eternity and life.
In reading the weekly Bible Study Guide (see link below) one
morning, some statements from Science and Health with Key to
the Scriptures reminded me of Tim’s song. I read, “Life is
eternal. We should find this out, and begin the demonstration
thereof. Life and goodness are immortal. Let us then shape our views
of existence into loveliness, freshness, and continuity, rather than
into age and blight.”
What would I do with
eternity?
I
thought again about the question in the song. What would I do with
eternity? And I found myself responding, “live like Life’s eternal.”
I started to think about that. How would it change my days, to
live knowing Life is eternal?
Considering this idea is transforming my experience day by day.
I’m starting to understand what Eddy meant about shaping our views
of existence by a life that is eternal, by a life that affirms God
as Life itself.
I feel I’ve found my answer. Pondering eternity is wiping out my
fears, erasing limitations and bringing more joy and peace to each
moment.
I'm a much
better listener these days.
I’m not letting the clock and calendar be my focus anymore. I’m
making the most of moments with loved ones, and moments by myself.
I’m a much better listener these days when friends and family
call—and it seems as though I get more calls than I used to.
And you know what? As the songs says, I have gone Rocky Mountain
climbing, and fishing, too. My husband and I have taken trips on the
spur of the moment. I’ve been spending more time with my
mother—going to movies together, swimming or just hanging out.
I have new hobbies. I feel I’m at a beginning that never ends.
And the possibilities are infinite for what I might do next.
(Perhaps bull riding? Well, maybe not.)
There is no "middle" to eternity. Yep, I'm singing a new song
now: “Live like Life’s eternal.” And that’s exactly how it feels.
