no guarantee

On my wall in my bedroom at my parent's house are reminders of a life that seems so long ago.  One wall displays my achievements in sports and high school academics.  There are two framed articles from the newspaper during my senior year that feature my picture from basketball games played years ago.  Inscribed inside the frame are these words "Jyndia, GREAT GAME! May God continue to bless you each day! -Mr. Hashley".  That particular article is from a game we played against Libby, a small western Montanan city north of Kalispell.  That was the game we honored Jennica.  A friend.  A teammate. A competitor.

Jennica's life was taken in an auto vs. semi accident months before this game.  She played for the team we were playing against that particular night.  Jennica was a teammate of mine on an AAU team that travelled much of WA, ID and MT; playing some of the best players in those respective states.  On the night of that game, our high school team honored her life by wearing a black patch on our uniforms with her jersey number in white.  A life taken far too soon.

A few months later, while competing at the State Basketball tournament, another friend's life was taken too soon in a drunk driving accident.  A beautiful friend and college freshman, Lindsey Elgas, was the victim of this accident.  Within five months, two lives close to me were taken.  It was in that moment as a senior in high school, naive to the world, realized my own mortality.

Mortality is such an interesting concept.  We spend our entire lives building up to the moment in which our own mortality is taken.  We work. We learn. We love. We grow. Until we die.  And it is that time we are given in which we must make our impact on this world.

I often think about these two girls (and a few other friends whom I have lost along the way) and wonder what they would be doing with their lives today.  Where would they live?  What would their chosen profession be?  Would they be married?  These girls left a lasting impression on my life and though their lives were cut short, they both were incredible young women.

When I was at the hospital today getting blood drawn, I was again reminded of my own mortality.  There is no guarantee how many years we have on this earth. The only guarantee we have is God is in control and his love for us never fails.  I am slowly and painfully learning this truth (and learning to trust this truth) and beginning to find comfort in its promise.  I have a responsibility to live my life fully each day.  Because there is no guarantee for tomorrow.  Therefore, it is today that matters- tomorrow will take care of itself.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18