by Lynelle Caudillo
Recently, Rob and I were able to hear one of my (Lynell's) favorite authors, Anne Lamott, speak at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. Growing up in the San Francisco bay area in the 1960's with very politically active, atheistic parents, she had little spiritual input in her life for the first thirty years or so. She came to faith while pregnant and getting sober. As a single parent she was embraced by a little Presbyterian church who welcomed seekers and loved her and her son. She was already a successful writer, and has since published several books reflecting her spiritual journey and musings on faith.
To the crowd that evening, crammed in the gym at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, she posed a question:
"If you had only three and a half days to live, what would you do?" |
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Would you keep up your "usual routine", whatever that is?
Would you surround yourself with friends and family?
Would you go to a favorite place?
Would you keep "should-ing" yourself, and do what you think or what others think you should do?
Would you have the freedom to say "No" (Anne reminds us: "'No' is a complete sentence!") to some things, and "Yes" to some others?
What is it that prevents us from living this way all the time, not just when in a "three-and-a-half-days-left" mode?
Personally, I find these questions worth reflecting on...let me know some of your answers!!
Thanks,
Lynell