The Bible is filled with metaphors that teach about the brevity of life. Life is described as a mist, a fast runner, a breath, and a vapor. To live intentionally and make the best use of your life, you must never forget that life compared with eternity is extremely brief. I love how the psalmist says:
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered – how fleeting my life is.” – Psalm 39:4 (NLT)
“I am here on earth for just a little while.” – Psalm 119:19 (TEV)
Bonnie Ware is an Australian hospice nurse. She usually spends the last 12 weeks of someone’s life with them. Some time ago she began asking her patients: “Do you have any regrets?”and “Is there anything you would do differently?” When asked these two questions common themes surfaced again and again.
Regret #1 – “I wished I hadn’t worked so hard.”
In Bonnie’s blog she wrote, “This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.”
Regret #2 – “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
Bonnie Ware said this was the most common regret of all. When people realized that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. There are so many things they wished they would have done. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that is was due to choices they had made, or not made.
I encourage you to live with intentionality. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. I dare you to dream again.
Additional Resources
Do you have a personal growth plan to live life without regreat? The Blueprint Bible study will help you live the life you were born to live. It contains audio messages featuring Andy Stanley, Louie Giglio, Tony Evans, John Maxwell and others. CLICK HERE to check it out!
