Most people seem to get wiser as they get older.  I think this is because, as we get closer to mortal death, we realize we just don't have much time to fool around.  The recent popular movie, The Bucket List, exemplifies this.  In this film, two men are dying, one a very wealthy but friendless man and the other a hardworking, happily-married family man.  In order to not spend what little time he has left alone and lonely, the rich man suggests and willingly pays for the two of them to do whatever they want with the time they have left, which all centers on personal experiences.  While the film makes a good point-don't waste your life away-its moral weakness is that all the activities the men do are self-centered.  None of their "first-time dream" experiences involves feeding poor people or tutoring kids from broken, low income homes.  In other words, there's no regrets, but no repentance either.

Living and dying needs to be more than that.  The greatest lesson and value in getting older is exactly the idea that life is a precious gift with not a moment to waste.  So we are to indeed live it to the fullest.  But, as always, our lives and our deaths are not ours alone to live and die but have impact on-indeed, belong to-others than just ourselves.  That was the supreme lesson of Jesus' own life and death: none of it belonged to him but to God and to God's world and people, even Jonah's despised Ninevites.  So, no matter how old or young you are, every moment is your last.  What are you doing this very second?  Doing something that makes the world a better place for your being a part of it?  Strengthening an important relationship?  Or planning to go shopping?  How about telling someone you love them beyond measure?  Or just saying, "Thank you," over and over and over.

 

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ^'Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’ So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

 

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
   for my hope is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
   my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my deliverance and my honour;
   my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
   pour out your heart before him;
   God is a refuge for us.
          Selah

Those of low estate are but a breath,
   those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
   they are together lighter than a breath.
Put no confidence in extortion,
   and set no vain hopes on robbery;
   if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

Once God has spoken;
   twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God, 
   and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.
For you repay to all
   according to their work.

 

I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.