As I was dropping off my teenage son at school today, we were listening to Blackbird by Alter Bridge. Since he is learning to play electric guitar, I asked him to learn this song and play it at my funeral. He laughed and went in to school.
As I drove on to work, the incident made me stop and think seriously about my death. Don’t think me too morbid. I had a NT professor once who confessed that he lay awake at night thinking of his death on a regular basis. He was 38 at the time.
I listened to the song over and over as I drove, imagining the band at the Vineyard, with all the electric guitar players stepping up to play various solos. The song tells the story of a friend who had died too young, but whose work would live on. Here’s the pertinent line in the song: “Ascend may you find no resistance, Know that you made such a difference, All you leave behind will live to the end.”
What on earth am I doing that is really making a difference? And especially, what am I leaving behind that will live to the end?!? Now I understand the sentimentality that accompanies the experience of telling your friend goodbye, and the emotion of wanting to say to them that they mattered. I’ll let you say those words without protest.
I spoke on the parable of the talents this past weekend. That story will get you thinking about your life, and meeting Jesus when you die.
It does you (us all) a world of good to pause on a regular basis, and ask whether you’re living the life you were created to live. And when your master returns and meets with you to settle up, will he refer to you as ‘good and trustworthy’ or ‘evil and lazy/irksome’?
For one thing, it will be pretty hard to answer that if you don’t know what you’re for. Spend time thinking about what you’re made for. What’s your life mission? Or, what’s the fire that burns in your core? If you could really be known for something, what would it be? What do you want to be remembered for? What if you really could make a difference? What would you want that to look like?
A friend once told me that he wanted to live such a life that when he died, no church in town would be able to hold the crowd. His intention wasn’t to be famous, but to be that well loved, which required him to live well. That’s a noble goal.
I’m not sure that’s quite what I’m digging for here, though. I’m not talking about simply being a quality person (which IS worthy) but what are you called to DO?
As I imagined that band playing my funeral, I wanted to think that what I had started in my short days was so important that someone would think, “We can’t let this work stop.” Frankly, I don’t want to waste my life. I have no need to be famous, but thinking about my funeral has been a real motivator to know what I’m for, and not to waste my life.
But in case I’m near the end, we’ve got to get Blackbird covered. Let’s see,
Derek and Taylor should do the vocals
On electric guitar, I want Ryan, Matt, Jonathon, and Chris
Ian and Tim can carry all the percussion
Matt and Josh can carry the bass . . .
Catch a Wave 