This morning, my nephew (Allen) who lives in Randleman, North Carolina started his first day of his Senior year in high school. This is the same kid who when I first got to see him as a baby, he screamed and started crying. As a four year old, this is the same kids I threw a plastic baseball to him and it drilled him in the chest. This is the same kid I taught how to play video games and gave him his first video game console (THE original Play Station). This is the same kid who I would make cry when we played basketball because I would always block his shot. This is the same kid who would get excited when Uncle Ted was coming to town because that meant Cheerwine slushies. He would stay with us at my Mom's house when we were in town. We would go to museums, parks, the zoo and so many other adventures. Less than two years ago, he got his driver's license and is no longer dependent on whether Uncle Ted can pick him up when I am in town. He has his own wheels and his own life. He will be graduating this Spring and heading off to collage. He is now taller than me, heavier than me, faster than me, can block my shot, but he's not cuter than me nor grayer than me. It seems like just a few minutes ago, his parents were trying to get me to change his diapers (an attempt which failed). It seems like yesterday, he would hold my hand when we walked through parking lots and count on me to have unlimited cash for the many adventures we experienced. In November, he will legally be a man and he has major decisions ahead of him. Once he leaves for college, I may not get to see him when we go to back to North Carolina or only see him briefly because he has a life with obligations, his own commitments and has his own path to choose. I hope and pray he will always make time for his Uncle Ted, but I understand what has happened in his life now. June will be here before I blink and I will watch him walk across that stage to get his diploma. There is a part of me that is thrilled with the incredible man he has become, but there is a part of me that sadly misses the child he once was. (If you think I am a little melancholy now, wait until my kids start graduating from high school). No matter what we think, life moves on way to quickly. In one moment, changing diapers, in the next moment driving off to college. Too quick!! Too quick!!
This past Sunday, Annette Blevins shared an incredible testimony with us. She shared about her heart attack and the surgery she had. she also shared about how she used to go 90 miles per hour (She's down to 82 mphs now). What stuck in my mind was just her thought about how quick life passes. We aren't going to be here forever. We had better make the most of our time on earth because it will pass too quickly. One minute, we are giving our lives to Jesus, the next minute we are meeting Him in Heaven. The pace of life doesn't slow down. The danger is that we get so busy living life, the we miss the multitude of opportunities God gives us to impact eternity. When everything is said and done, only those things done to honor God will matter. We can get so caught up in the daily mundane living, working, paying bills, etc. that we forget to have our eyes open for the good God could do through us. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us, "Just as man is destined to die once and after that face the judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many." We have one shot at time, not multiple chances. We need to faithfully follow Christ today so we can impact eternity. There is someone who needs your assistance today. There is someone who needs good news today. There is someone whose life you can change with just a smile or comforting word. Will you do good today and seek to magnify Jesus? Those opportunities pass too quickly.
This Fall, my 30th college reunion takes place on November 2nd at Wingate University. It seems like yesterday, I was attending Wingate COLLEGE (Not university). It seems like yesterday, I was saying good-bye to my roommate (Randy) and close friends in my suite (David, Jim, Jack and Tom). It seems like just yesterday I was receiving my BA in Human Services from Dr. Corts. It seems like just yesterday I was pondering my next step in life of moving to Louisville to work on my Master's degree from Southern Seminary. It seems like just yesterday I was walking my parents through my Wingate hangouts and introducing them to my friends and professors. It seems like just yesterday, my hair was dark brown without any gray, I had no wrinkles and no age spots! I look back and I think..."Too quick! Too quick". I pray that Allen will make the most of his final year of high school because it will pass too quick. More than that I pray that we will make the most for Christ because it will pass to quick.
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