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Today's
Meditation:
I
think of this question often, for someone exposed me to it
quite a few years ago. I wonder from time to time
what I have left unsaid or undone, and whom I would call
today if I knew that I were going to die tomorrow.
And when I realize that I might have said something unkind
or had an argument with someone with whom I don't want to
stay on bad terms, I do what I can to make things better
with that person as soon as I can. Do I want my last
words to one of my stepdaughters to be words of anger or
frustration? I don't think so.
This
is a great way to keep your mind clear of some of the
small, nagging things that take up so much of our mental
energy. If I did have an argument with someone, this
puts it in perspective--do I want to continue feeling
anger and resentment about our disagreement, and allow
those feelings to dominate me, or do I want to find that
person and make things right, allowing my mind to focus on
other things that are much more pleasant and
productive? I don't want to wait for the perfect
time or until the other person apologizes--that time may
never come.
The
other people in our lives are our most important
resources. Without them, we don't learn, we don't
grow, we don't change, we don't feel the touch of love and
compassion and caring in our lives. Without them, we
have no one to whom to give our love and caring.
It's important if we're going to get the most out of our
lives that we accept them as they are and allow them to be
who they are without putting our artificial expectations
upon them. It's up to us to make things right and
not to wait for someone else to do so, for we know just
how important it is; they may not have learned that yet.
Of
course, Stephen isn't talking about everyone, all the
time. If I were going to die tomorrow, I'd call my
parents. But since I call them regularly anyway, I
don't give them a call every time I think about this
concept. But I do my best to make things right with
others when and where I see the need.
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