WAWA kicked back into high gear this morning in a very hot and humid way!  I might still be sweating!  Good workout and hoping to see more folks as the seasons change….and interest grows!

I told the group this morning that I had all summer to think about my first devotional when we reconvened.  I had been going down the path for a few weeks about sharing a “whoa is me” story of my recovery back from shoulder surgery, my self consciousness about gaining 10 pounds while experiencing limited activities, and, of course, not being able to hit the golf course for four months.  But last night it hit me that maybe that wasn’t really the message I wanted to share.

I came across a meme earlier on September 10th, that said the following:

“18 years ago today, 3,000 people would be spending their last night with their family.  Think about that for a second.”

I took longer than a few seconds to ponder that reality.

For the past several years, many have asked “where were you on 9/11?”

For me, I was working for IBM in Atlanta, and was in a software planning room with a couple other colleagues as we were going through some tasks on a project for The Home Depot.  I recall when the first plane hit the World Trade Center, I like many thought it was a small twin-engine plane that had lost its way or come under distress.  Soon, however, the world knew the grim reality of the day.

Our world was never again the same.

Fast forward to my summer, I shared with this morning’s runners about a funeral I attended about a month ago in Atlanta.  A dear friend, wonderful husband and wife with twin boys less than a year old….the mother laid down to take an afternoon nap … and never woke up.

Heartbreaking.

And just this week, a friend from my Friday morning men’s group, sent me a text and shared his sad news about his father in law’s passing.

Few things in life are certain; death is certainly one of them.  I hate it.  I’m scared about it.  I don’t want to lose those close to me who I love dearly.

But what am I doing about it?  What are….you….doing about it?

When I lay my head down to rest at night, I rarely think about my salvation.  Am I going to heaven?  Am I certained to get there?  Will God give me a pass because I’m “mostly a good guy?”

What am I doing to ensure that will happen?

³⁶ “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. ³⁷ For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, ³⁹ and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24: 36-30

I know very little about the 3,000.  And I know little about my friend’s father in law.  As for my friend from Atlanta, she lived her life both outwardly and inwardly as God would want her to live.  She continues to be one of my heros today.  While her passing was untimely by our earthly standards, her preparations for salvation were always reverent.

I want to do a better job in my own preparations.

My prayer this week, as we lean forward into a new season of WAWA is that we live our days to the fullest, yet as God would want us to live.  May we be an example to others that we are prepared for salvation. And in doing these things, may we not be worried, for the invitation to our Father’s kingdom awaits us.

Amen.