Whoa! Did I just have a rude awakening! This morning I decided to see what kind of information about myself was floating around the internet so I Googled my name. Imagine my surprise when I saw the two following items on the first page of results;
John S****** Obituary:
View John S****** Obituary
In Loving Memory of John S*
Even though I knew it wasn’t me, just seeing my name in the same sentence as ‘obituary’ and ‘in loving memory’ blew me away! Believe me, at my age I’ve come to understand my mortality, I can’t say that I’m ready to meet my maker just yet, but I realize that I could at anytime. Still those two links sure sent a chill through me. Then, of course, my morbid curiosity got the best of me and I clicked on the link.
Montclair-Luciania Funeral Home Chicago, IL (773) 622-9300 S******, John died suddenly, age 40, loving father of *********,********and *********, dear grandfather of ************, beloved son of ************and the late **********, devoted brother of ************, fond nephew of many aunts and uncles. Funeral Monday, 9 a.m. from the Woodlawn Funeral Home, 7750 W. Cermak Rd., Forest Park, IL 60130 (Montclair-Lucania Funeral Directors) to St. Leonard Church, Berwyn, IL. Mass 10 a.m. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Visitation Sunday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. May He Rest in Peace.
Unreal! How often do you read an obituary with your own name featured? It certainly got me thinking. I began wondering what might be said about me after I pass, how I might be remembered, but what I really began to ponder was what life, my life means to me. Have I fulfilled my purpose? If not, do I still have time to do so?
I’ve always believed that man’s ultimate quest in life is the attainment of wisdom. To me wisdom is acquired knowledge that leads to insight, personal growth and understanding. It is not only the ability to discern the difference between right and wrong or good and evil, but between what is truly beneficial to our well-being and what isn’t. Wisdom is the result of experience. It is the power to understand ourselves in relation to those around us. Simply put, it is sensibility, truth, happiness and contentment with life. When one attains wisdom they will ultimately receive their just reward, both earthly and spiritually.
Have I attained wisdom? I’d like to believe I have, at least a little. I know I still have a ways to go, but the road to wisdom is not an easy one. It’s a road marred with unseen traps, ruts and countless diversions, so it is very easy for those seeking wisdom to back-slide, stumble or sometimes stop altogether. Seeing my name in the obituary reminded me that time is fleeting and that I must always place my trust in God and continue moving forward toward my goal, before it’s too late. “Time waits for no man.”
What wisdom I’ve attained thus far has certainly brought me contentment, I am quite happy with my lot in life. I only wish I could have felt this way in younger years. I certainly hope that by the time my obituary is being written, I’ve realized my quest and am the man I always thought I could be. I’m trying…
“ The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want…”
J S
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