"The End." That would be an odd way to start a story right? Is the end really the end or just the beginning? The last week I have had some "run ins" with death. Death always gets me thinking, about things that I should really think about more. I think it does that for all of us really. One run in I have had was with a young man of 16 that I didn't know but I wish I would have. His family goes to our church and his little brothers our in our youth group. He passed away a few years ago and I saw a memorial video on facebook that was great. Everything I heard of this young man was great. I wish I would have had the chance to meet him. My other run in with death is an elderly woman who lived a great, full life and she passed away this week. She was a substitute teacher of mine and the mother, grandmother, and great grandmother of a family in our church as well. Seems odd to me. One, seems like life was taken way to soon and the other was able to live a ful life. Is their purpose in this? I think there is. We all have different paths, different roads we travel. Some people still effect people with their path even after death, such as the young man I spoke of earlier. Here's what I know is certain...when I die, which I will because we all will, I want my life to leave an impression on the world. Not for the mere sake of someone saying I made a difference in the world at my funeral, but that I actually made a difference, for the good. I want people to be changed because of what I was able, through God, to accomplish. Do I believe in eternity? Yes. If I truly believe that than I should really be trying to effect people. I really wouldn't care if anybody came to my funeral...actually I wouldn't mind not having a funeral, as long as lives where changed. They were to busy helping others change to come to my funeral :) How about this...lets just have a party, instead of a funeral for me. How about a Hawaiian themes party, I liked Hawaii a lot :) I am "officiating" my first funeral this week so I have been thinking about this stuff a lot. Sorry if I freaked you out, but maybe I freaked you out in a way that makes you think about your life and the difference, impact, or legacy you are creating.
Michael Elkins
