Being fat, dumb and happy is a defense mechanism. It’s a wonderful coat of naive armor that protects us from life’s random and cruel nature. We think we’re invincible. And the guaranteed fact that we are going to die seems to be safely locked away in some dusty corner of our minds. We all think we are going to nod off one last time when we are 100. That we’ll pass away in a peaceful, gentle way.
I wish life was that easy. But it’s not.
Now, I’m not trying to be depressing on a Monday morning. I guess news that Mississippi attorney Precious Martin died suddenly yesterday from a four-wheeler accident is weighing on my mind. (his son was also critically injured when the four-wheeler flipped several times). I didn’t know Precious well, but I knew of him and his family. I knew he seemed to live life to the fullest. His sudden death seems cruel. It’s a chink in our naive armor of obliviousness. And it has left many of us stunned.
Life is frail. Life is short. And life can be cruel.
I am in my mid-forties. My grandparents lived into their late 80’s and early 90’s. I had gotten complacent about my life into my 30’s. Then cancer gave me a rude wake-up call. The awareness of my mortality walks along with me daily. It grips me and makes me appreciate weird things like sunrises and sunsets.
I could go now. In ten minutes. In a month. In five years. Or when I am 100. Thankfully we don’t know when our final breath will come. I know I don’t want to know.
But what I do want to know, is that I have truly lived. That I did not waste this amazing gift we’ve been given.
My heartfelt prayers go out to the Martin family today. And may we honor his spirit by living our lives to the fullest.
I will remember Precious Martin’s life. And I will remember life is truly precious.
Amen Marshall