The Inevitable

Just a little short of 24 hours ago, news broke that NBA legend Kobe Bryant had been killed in a helicopter crash in California.  As tragic as that news was for many to hear, it became even worse when it was revealed that not only had Kobe died, but also losing their lives in the crash were his 13-year old daughter Gianna and 7 other people including 2 more children.  They were on their way to an AAU basketball game or camp (I have seen conflicting stories on which) where Kobe was supposed to coach and Gianna and the other girls were going to be playing.  Tragic.  Just absolutely tragic.

I didn't know anyone on that helicopter but my heart aches for their families.  I have experienced loss recently and while it wasn't a sudden or surprising loss, it was a loss nonetheless that leaves a huge void in my life.  I can't imagine what the surviving parents, spouses, children, and other family of these individuals are feeling this morning.  There is a hole that will never be filled until they draw their last breath on this Earth.  There isn't much more that I can do for those families other than pray that God will comfort them at this time.

Immediately following the news, Twitter came alive with messages of condolences to the victims families and reminders of how precious that this life that we are given is.  Rightfully so, I may add.  We were challenged to let go of petty differences and and hug our loved ones tighter and to reach out to those we haven't talked to in a while or may even have been avoiding.  Again, great things to do.

But anytime there is a tragedy like this my question quickly becomes this:  Why does it take a tragedy such as this for us to decide that we should be decent human beings?  Why should Kobe Bryant's death, as tragic and sudden as it was, be what spurs us to reach out, be nice, give hugs, etc?  

Understandably, part of the response is due to the fact that tragedies like this are a reminder that life is already short and our time here is limited.  It is a reminder that none of us are promised tomorrow.  That reminder hits even harder when children are the ones that perish because we think of all the potential that they had in front of them.  Pat McAfee said it best on his podcast this morning when he said, "Let's make our todays better than our yesterdays because we truly have no idea if tomorrow will come."  That's some great advice!  We shouldn't wait until an unimaginable tragedy occurs to live each day like it may be our last.  Some day, we will all wake up on our "last day".  None of us know when that day is coming.  Some people are experiencing that day right now and don't even know it.  Regardless of what age we are right now, none of us are promised tomorrow.  That's a harsh reality of living in a fallen world. Each and every one of us are on borrowed time and some of us were able to take out bigger loans from the Life Bank and Trust Company.

So I guess the purpose of all this rambling is to say this:  When asked what was the greatest commandment, Christ told us to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.  After that, to love your neighbor as yourself.  Every day, we have opportunities to impact others.  Good or bad.  It is my hope that every day, you and me will just be examples of what Christ has already called us to be.  That it won't take the death of a celebrity for us to be encouraged or reminded that we should love others, even when we don't agree with them.  That we should cherish our family because at any moment, one of them could be gone.  That even when things aren't going our way that we can still have a positive impact on someone.  That rather than focus on all the negative that this world throws at us, that we will chose to see the best in people.  That we will help those who need help and comfort those who need comforting.  Every day.  Not just on the days following a tragedy.

Every. Single. Day.

Just imagine what our lives would be like for however long we have left if we all make the decision to live like Christ has called us to live.  To love Him and love our neighbor like we love ourself.  If we live this way, when tragedies do come, we won't be left with regrets of things we should have done or words we should have said to the person before they left us.  We'll have already said and done everything that needs to be said and done because that's just how we live our lives.