A New Family
Malvern Community,
Resurrection life - from last Sunday
I promised to share the list from my sermon on Sunday of the life ‘renewals’ from people who have suffered a near-death experience. They are compiled from a range of studies such as this one.
People who get a second chance tend to:
Put people before work: Leave the office on time, visit family, ring people more often, say “I love you,” repair strained relationships, and stop postponing time together.
Stop taking ordinary life for granted: Enjoy breakfast, a walk, sitting in the garden, a conversation, the weather, being able to drive somewhere, or simply waking up in the morning.
Become more deliberate with time: Ask, “Do I actually want to spend my life doing this?” and cut back on things that feel empty or pointless.
Do things they had been postponing: Take the trip, learn something, see an old friend, change jobs, start a project, retire earlier, or pursue something they had always said they would do “one day.”
Worry less about trivial things: Arguments, status, appearances, minor irritations and other people’s opinions can lose some of their importance.
Become more grateful: Not just in a vague sense, but deliberately noticing what they still have: spouse, children, friends, health, home, community, another day.
Seek more meaningful work and activity: Wanting their remaining time to contribute to something worthwhile rather than merely being productive or successful.
Become more generous toward others: Giving time, money, attention, encouragement or practical help because relationships and contribution now feel more valuable.
Reconsider what success means: Less “How much have I achieved?” and more “Who have I loved? What have I contributed? Have I actually lived?”
Feel freer to be themselves: Less governed by expectations, social approval or the need to impress, because surviving has changed what seems important.
Try to live in the present rather than continually deferring life: Not “I’ll be happy when…” but “This is the life I have been given, and I want to live it now.”
Consider more seriously about meaning, mortality and spirituality: Asking questions they could previously keep at a distance: Why am I here? What is worth living for? What happens when I die? What do I believe?
A few reflections:
Notice how closely their life reorients toward the teachings of Jesus and the Kingdom of God. Perhaps re-read Matthew 5-7 and reflect.
Notice how they lose interest in trivial things that waste time, and yet value more highly simple things such as sunshine and beauty.
And remember the two big questions I asked:
What forces and powers in our world would you most like to come out from under the control of?
What forces and powers inside you would you most like to be liberated from?
Have a meaningful week,
Tim