Let the Dead bury their dead

Last night I toyed with an idea that may seem trivial to most. My mind and my heart were on the same page which is a rare occurrence. The idea - "What would it mean to truly live?" Now this may be a bit redundant as anyone with air in their lungs is considered to be living at some degree. I think what had me stumped, is that living should be more than just whether or not your heart beats or air comes through your nostrils and mouth. What stops most of us from living beyond this? Why do most go to the grave with dreams that could have changed the very existence of the life they lived? Why is death more appealing than life? Why do some rush to the idea of a quick exit from this reality rather than fighting to make this reality what they think it ought to be? I know, that is a whole lot of "whys" but I do believe they are questions we should all be asking.

I think that our answers to these questions begin to form when we children. Last January I was in Jamaica :) visiting family when I experienced something amazing. One of my younger cousins, Nyanda, was joyously gallivanting around the house informing anyone that would lend an ear that she would one day become a police officer just like her mom and dad. My father walked in on her press conference and put her to sit on his lap. He then enlightened the little one that she would in fact become a doctor and not a police officer. His revelation was a bit bias, but never the less it opened her mind to possibilities she never knew existed. After their little enlightenment session, Nyanda would for the remainder of trip when asked what she wanted to be, say in a very bold yet stately manner, "I am going to be a doctor because Uncle said so!"

Mind you, I dont know if she is still singing this tune, but it was a great illustration for me. You see, Nyanda and all her other cousins come from family that is supportive of dreaming big. Not only that, they are also a family that believes in hard work regardless of the trade one is in. This is not the case for many and most times this is not enough. I believe that all adults are responsible for seeing greatness in children and being brave enough to tell them. You telling a child how great they could be, plants a seed that is not easily destroyed. Many adults find it difficulty to follow their dreams because they were never allowed to dream when they were kids. Their home situation may have been difficulty and the teachers that were entrusted to mold their minds and character by day, could not see beyond the bad behavior they displayed. And again maybe this reality held true for these teachers too. I do want to say thank to all those teachers who make it their purpose to go above and beyond to tell their students just how special they are. I truly believe that the embrace of life starts when we are young, so if it is reinforced that we live in a bad world and that we can do nothing to make it different that is what we grow up to believe.

There is a thin line (breathing) between really living and death. The sad reality is that most people tend to stay on that thin line and never venture over to the side of really living. About a year or so ago "YOLO" became the motto to live by with majority using it as an excuse to live recklessly. I was given an opportunity to preach a sermon at my home church with the title "YODO - You Only Die Once". I used the time given to me to change the emphasis because when you understand that you only die once and what the end result of death it gives "Living" a better perspective. I want to dive into this a bit more but maybe on another post.

The whole point of this is that many of us are filled with unborn dreams. These dreams if given a chance to see "Life" can give someone else the hope to bring forth their dreams as well. This is an extremely long post to challenge you to LIVE beyond the ordinary, to be BOLD and face LIFE head-on in the coming days. Instead of living in the mundane purpose in your heart to LIVE life on purpose. Refuse to live on that thin line anymore... LEAP over to the side of really living.

Life is for the living so let the dead bury their dead.