Keeping Things In Perspective

Solomon wrote, "Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth."  This morning, the third day of November, 2011 I went to the house of mourning. The occasion was the funeral for a friend's father. His father was 87 years old and left behind two sons, four daughters, 13 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild. A lot of good things were said about this man and the life he lived, but the most important aspect of his life was that he knew the Lord. It is a promise that will not fail that vengeance will be forth-coming on "those who do not know God". This man was never the CEO of a large corporation or a prominent coach of a prestigious university or the president of his country, but men of his caliber are truly the cornerstones on which this country stands. When we lose men like him, I pray God there's another to take his place because without these men our country's foundation will weaken and crumble.

Many men and women have reached lofty positions in the eyes of our society who have neglected family and even moral values along the way. How many times have you heard about someone who attained a high status in some company and made a lot of enemies along the way by just running over and stepping on whomever was in the way? Too often, folks spend their life trying to be important and don't pay enough attention to the things that are important!  How many people have you ever heard of that said on their death bed, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office" or "I wished I'd worked more hours on my job"? Those are not the things people regret in their life but rather the regrets are not spending more time with family, not taking that vacation with a spouse or not taking the time to really enjoy nature.

My friend's father was a great man, not because of the position he held in a company or university or country, but because he was a good, decent, respectable and loving father, grandfather and great grandfather. Those who spoke at his funeral spoke of a man who loved life, family and the Lord and who was loved and respected by those who knew him best. No position a man can hold in this life should be more coveted than to be a family man who puts God and family first in his every thought. How blessed our country would be if more of our men and women were as solid as my friend's father. We need a nation of people who know how to keep things in perspective – who understand what is really important in life. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

Kind words and glowing praise spoken at a funeral are only valid if the life lived matches the words spoken; otherwise it is just empty rhetoric. This man lived a life that could be appreciated by those who knew him best. What about you and me? What will be said truthfully about us when those who know us best gather to pay respects when we pass from this world? May we all have the vision to understand what really matters in life!