Will anyone notice when you die?
When I read obituaries, I notice what it says between the date of birth and the date of death. Sometimes there is nothing there. There are obviously many reasons, why this information may be missing.
Perhaps the family was very poor and couldn’t afford a larger article. But I know of many poor family’s who have the “cheapest
funeral”, but the obituary is very long.
Perhaps, it was the wishes of the person that nothing be said. But I know of many family’s who may not include anything in the obituary or even have a formal service, but they find another way to memorialize their loved one. Gifts given to schools, hospitals, parks, organizations, etc.
Or perhaps, the person didn’t do anything to make anyone notice. Perhaps, they stayed under the radar all their life, never making waves, never being noticed, never taking a stand about anything.
I remember when my father died 52 years ago; they had an extra article about him in the paper in addition to his obituary. He wasn’t famous, or rich, but he touched many people’s lives with his kindness and willingness to be there for people when they needed someone. He knew how to have a good time. And he wasn’t afraid to take a stand about his beliefs no matter how unpopular they were.
Some obituaries contain information about the work the person did, the relationships they had, or the organizations they belonged to. Some mention none. Did they not work somewhere, belong to a worship body, or was the friend of someone?
When Jesus died, several people wrote “articles” (scripture) about him, about his work, about his relationships, about the lives he touched.
I have come to a conclusion about people. The people who have something more in their obituary than the date of birth and death touched someone’s life. And if they don’t, it doesn’t mean anything in particular.
Who are the people who touch our lives? Those who took the risks like Jesus did. They weren’t necessarily popular or well liked by everyone, but everyone knew what they stood for. Even those we don’t agree with touch our lives.
Who are the people who lives you have touched? When was the last time you stood up for what you believed in? When was the last time you took a risk in spite of being thought unpopular? When was the last time you touched someone’s life?
Think about it during the weeks of Pentecost, will anyone notice when you are gone – either for what you stood up for or what you didn’t support. Will there be an empty space between the date of birth and the date of death? Or will there be empty space between the date of your birth and the date of your death? Will anyone care? Will anyone notice when you die?
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