The Air in My Lungs

Recently, I have been having quite a few flash backs to my bike accident and my time in hospital. There is rarely a day that passes without me thinking about that time but usually they are in fleeting snapshots that appear and are gone. The recent images have turned into mini-movies with much more detail, probably because I had entered and have completed a road race after a number of years of abstinence. I am not writing this message to gain more sympathy for the accident as that event has long passed and I have, without a doubt, been miraculously healed. What is pertinent about having these re-runs is a reminder of the promise I made to myself to make this life count. With that accident, I had been given a serious jolt to give my all to this life.

There is a verse in a song that goes like this:
Every day we live, We get one more chance
To use the air in our lungs To make something that counts
And now we wanna be the ones To build something that lasts. - "Bright Eyes" by Ever Stays Red

So reminding myself, that every day is another chance to forget yesterday's mistakes and get on and make a difference in this world today. Not aiming to build a mansion adorned with objects that will fade and rust to nothing, but to focus on building "something that lasts".  For me that is my faith in God and the promise of an eternity with Him. In addition to that, it's what I do with and for my family. Sure I can work 24/7 to enable the buying of 'things' for them but one day when I am gone what will remain? What will their attitude be? Will they miss the "things" or the person? Hopefully the latter, if I am doing what I set my mind to while lying in that hospital bed. Further afield, I have been given the privilege of sharing these thoughts and messages with a greater audience and even people I may never meet. The feedback I get is always encouraging for me so I am motivated to persevere with my 'ramblings'.

This week, take a moment to consider what you are grateful for. Even it is just the air in your lungs, you have an incredible opportunity to use, to make a difference, or at least try...

Look around yourself. We are all so inward focused that often, we don't see (and at times choose not to see), those that need some lifting up. I've said it before, it could be the simple act of just listening to or acknowledging someone who is going through something difficult, because we all have our challenges to overcome. But be that person who breaks the mould and offers a hand up.

Use that air in your lungs and start building the things that last.