sense of urgency?

You know those times when something happens of the blue -- a death of a close family member or friend, a life threatening illness, a near death experience, a family issue, etc-- that really just gives you a great big reality check. Well, the end of last week was one of those times for me.

One of my roommates, Allie, got a call Friday letting her know that one of her very best friends from home was in the hospital with a rare (very serious) blood disease called TTP. Without going into all the medical details...it's not good. She contracted this disease from a parasite she got while visiting another country over Christmas break.

(Prayers are greatly appreciated for her and for her family and friends right now. Allie is currently there and is remaining there for awhile. We are just continually praying for strength and healing.)

...It really got me thinking. We, in general, always assume we have time. It's nothing that we consciously ever really think about. Like how many times do we say, "Oh I'll do that later," or "I'll tell him/her that later because it'll be a better time," or something might be "awkward" so you don't want to do. Or better yet, how many times do we not doing something in fear of what others think? You know, I bet we are all scared. The people I am scared of thinking a certain thing are probably scared of the exact same thing themselves. The thing is we don't know if there is going to be another time. As morbid as that sounds, we have lost a sense of urgency that is imperative to our being. Imperative to what the Lord has for us. 

I think often times we forget we are just a mist.

"How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone." [James 4:14]

"You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath" [Psalm 39:5]

Through all of this I have been encouraged to make the most of every opportunity. To live more in a sense of urgency about things. Not fearing death, but celebrating life, and the time you do have. Not in a foolish manner, but in a fully alive one. I also challenge you to think, as I am myself... What does it truly mean to be fully alive in the LORD and let that be displayed in your own  everyday life?