We might look back once in a while, but life must be lived
forwards. We can’t be sure of what’s
around the next bend on this journey, so we need to be ready to get pulled out
of our comfort zones at a moment’s notice.
I walked into a coffeeshop and found a young man, Michael,
multitasking on two computer screens, and from the concentrated look on his
face I think he was lost in his comfort zone.
I worked up the courage to interrupt his train of thought.
“Excuse me” I said. “I see you are busy and don’t mean to bother you, but
sometimes I find people don’t mind taking a break now and then. I’m wondering if I can record a conversation
for my YouTube channel”.
I explained that I attend a local church and that I ask
people about their beliefs and try to set a good example of positive dialogue
with people from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs. Michael kindly agreed to a conversation and
began to clear the table to make room for my camera. I told him I would begin by asking what he believes
happens after we die, followed by other questions about how he arrived at
whatever beliefs or doubts he might have.
I turned on my camera and he began to explain some of his
thoughts. After the initial awkwardness
of being pulled out of his comfort zone by a stranger making an unusual
request, he settled into an explanation about his beliefs, how he was raised in
the catholic faith but was having serious doubts.
Just then several gunshots rang out from the street in front
of the coffee shop. We both looked to
see a young man ducking and dodging from the shots, then running away down the
sidewalk, while a black sedan sped away down a side street.
In hindsight, there are many things I could have and should
have done, but when something so unexpected happens it’s hard to think of all
the implications. We saw the young man
run away down the sidewalk, but I didn’t think until later that he still might
have been wounded, or that maybe there were bystanders down the street that
were hit and needed help.
What did hit us fairly quickly was how close we had been to
a life and death situation, that the young man could have died and if he had
run toward us we would have been in the line of fire ourselves. We turned back to our conversation, shaken up
a little bit and commenting on how random life can be.
Our conversation seemed a little more urgent after this,
punctuated I think with some of these afterthoughts and realizations, as well
as the arrival of the police for questioning witnesses. Michael did his best to carry on, explaining that
he didn’t really think it matters what religion one believes in as long as they
do their best to be kind and treat others as they would like to be treated.
I began to ask how he would measure up when judged by
biblical standards. Has he lied? Stolen?
Hurt others with his words (murder) or lusted in his thoughts
(adultery)? These are all uncomfortable
questions if one is being honest, and I believe Michael was honest. He also honestly but kindly told me this
probably wasn’t the best way to make my point, especially with the camera in
his face. Combined with the
circumstances and all the distracting thoughts, I wondered if he was right.
But I think there is a point to be made. Much as churches try to make religion
comfortable, the Gospel is meant to challenge us, to pull us out of our comfort
zones and encourage us to step out on faith.
Thoughts of “Judgement Day” are meant to alarm us, to let us know we
will one day be held accountable, and the randomness of life lets all of us
know that today could be that day.
For many of us, death will come unexpectedly, and we will
stand before God’s judgement throne exposed, feeling naked much like Adam and
Eve or feeling like all our actions were recorded for the world to see. We will be forced to look back on our lives
without being able to change anything because life must be lived forward.
And, looking forward, either heaven or hell will await us, “For
the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus
our Lord.” Much as we will want to erase
any record of our sins at that time, the only way they might be “erased” will
be through forgiveness; not a forgiveness we might earn by good or religious
deeds, but by the forgiveness Jesus paid for with his life and which we can
receive as a gift through faith.
I hope I don’t have to be this close to life and death again
but if I am I hope this incident could help me respond more appropriately the
next time. And I hope for Michael it can
be a friendly reminder of the need to prepare for our eternal future as well.
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