Isaiah 32:8 “But the noble man makes noble plans and by noble deeds he stands.”
Scottish author Ian Banks, aged 59, on finding out he had terminal cancer, said he was overwhelmed by all the support he received from the public and fellow writers. Ian then proposed to his long-term girlfriend with the words: “Will you do me the honour of becoming my widow?” Like many of those who have been given not much longer to live, Mr. Banks kept a sense of humour but also found a sense of urgency and the need to formalise what mattered most to him.
The only certain thing in life is death. That need not be a fearful concept, but rather one that brings focus. One advantage of living in a warzone surrounded by death for many years was an awareness of the fragility of my life. When someone said they were going to kill me, I actually felt very alive at that moment and wanted to continue to do so! It made me prioritise and invest in what mattered. Time became a precious commodity. People were likewise precious, but not a commodity themselves. It made me analyse relationships and get my house in order. Unfinished conversations or damaging situations needed confronting and closure. In contrast, peacetime deceives us into drifting along, devoid of urgency, addressing situations haphazardly.
If you had to do an audit of your personal world today, would you be at peace? Your priorities are what you spend most of your time, money, and energy thinking about and pursuing. Here are some questions to help you sharpen your focus:
• What am I spending most of my time, money, and energy on at this stage of my life – i.e. what are my priorities?
• Do they fit in well and are they consistent with my values and who I want to be?
• If not, what am I going to do about it to rectify the situation?
Don’t live out those questions in isolation. Tell someone so they can hold you accountable.
Lord, help me choose good priorities today. Amen!
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