100 things to do before you die!
What's on your list?
What would you like to do before you die?
What are the things that you just have to see, have to be, have to experience?
If you had to write a list, what things would make your top ten? Write one now...
If you’re struggling to think of many there is a book that could help. It's called ‘100 things to do before you die’, and it begins with these words: 'This life is a short journey. How can you make sure you fill it with the most fun and that you visit all the coolest places on earth before you pack those bags for the very last time?’
The ‘things to do’ include:
- competing the world cowpat throwing championship in Oklahoma
- running with the bulls in Pamplona
- 'land-diving' in Vanuatu, South Pacific.
A reality check
Sadly Dave Freeman, the co-author of the book, died after falling and hitting his head whilst at home in California. His family said he had done only half the things listed in his book.
Well although Dave Freeman didn’t ever get to the end of his list of things to do before he died, there is a bloke who did. There is a bloke who’s been everywhere, done everything and got every T-shirt. The Bible has the journal of a man on a mission to do as much as he could in his short life. He had even more than 100 things on his ‘to-do’ list, and the amazing thing is that he actually lived to complete his list.
As he looked back over all his achievements, his many experiences, and all the things he managed to do before he died, this is what he says:
‘...when i surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled at to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.’ (Ecclesiastes 2v11)
Wow! Does he have a wonderful sense of achievement at all he’s seen and done? No.
Everything is meaningless, except...
Everything, all these amazing things on his list - all meaningless! That doesn’t mean he didn’t enjoy them at the time, but at the end of it all he concludes that it was, well... a bit pointless really.
He wraps up his journal with these words “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”.( Ecclesiastes 12v1 )
What is the final word of the man who lived long enough to do more than most of us could ever dream of? Simple - don’t forget God.
He says he wasted his time chasing the wind, going after stuff that would never satisfy and it was a waste of a life. His advice, as one who has seen it all, done it all and got every T-shirt is... remember your creator.
This life is a short journey (Dave Freeman was sadly right about that wasn’t he?). How can you make sure you don’t waste it? How can you make sure you’ve made the most of it before you pack those bags for the very last time?' The man who did it all says “Don’t ignore God - Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.”
So, let's try again - if you had to write a list, what things would make your top ten now?
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