life's a mist

There are times in each of our lives that are reminded, be it rudely or pleasantly, of how blessed we are. Some of us experience these times more often than others.

Last night Jon and I were driving home from a free dinner in my reliable, air conditioned car discussing how blessed we are. We have parents who love us, our needs are more than sufficiently met, we're educated, we have a ridiculously amazing group of friends, and the list goes on. I'm often disgusted by the fact that I can't come close to adequately thanking God for all the blessings He has dumped all over me. I think one way we can thank Him in this short life is by passing the blessings He's given us on to others.

The other day I was reading my National Geographic (Aug. '06) and it had a chart displayed the odds of U.S. residents dying in various events.

Hot weather: 1 in 13,729
Bicycling accident: 1 in 4,919
Drowning: 1 in 1,008
Motor vehicle accident: 1 in 84
Cancer: 1 in 7
Heart disease: 1 in 5
Odds of dying: 1 in 1

The Bible tells us over and over that we shouldn't put too much stock in the things going on in this life. Our lives on Earth are compared to things like a vapor, a tent, a mist, and other temporary things of the sort. I pray that Jesus would allow me to truly, truly see my life as such, and live it accordingly.

I received an email this morning informing me that sometime not long after Jon and I were driving home last night, one of our friends in College Station died in a train accident.

We are so blessed. Not just Jon and myself, but you the reader too. Not just the reader, but every person with whom the reader has come in contact in the past week - or with whom the reader will come in contact in the weeks to come. I do not even claim to understand Jesus' grace, but I am, undoubtedly, eternally thankful for it.

This post is dedicated (as lame as it is) to, and in loving memory of, Walker Best.