So, yeah, I’ve been thinking about death. Mine. Yours. I blame my computer.
My computer is currently under hospice care. I know it is going to die any day now. As it is – there are days when it won’t start at all – despite my begging. It has had a good run as far as PC laptops go. Almost five years of daily travel back and forth to the church. Sometimes handled less than gently – sometimes left in the cold car for a few hours...sometimes left in the hot car for a few hours. There is no doubt. Death is coming.
So I did what I needed to do. I purchased a Mac Book and next week, I get to bring both computers into the Apple store to have the people there help me get what I need off the “old” computer and put it into the “new” one. So, I am nursing the old Toshiba along – praying it will start up at the appointment. Death is coming.
In the meantime, I’m trying to put everything onto flash drives. Documents saved. Photos saved. Programs.... well, they won’t translate over to Mac so, that stinks.... I’m trying to keep what I can because I have a little time. There was some warning that death is coming.
In real life- we are not so lucky. Death often comes with no warning. No chance to “back up” and prepare. No opportunity to “Save” files of conversations or situations with loved ones. No potential to “Go Back” and fix what got broken or “undo” words spoken without thought. I’m learning from my computer situation that I need to treat life with more care. I need to be more aware of “backing up” my relationships and holding them dear.
My faith teaches me that death is not really the end, and I do believe it but I can’t articulate what comes next. “Being with God” is as far as I can go in my description of eternal life. So I trust that there- with God - all relationships have been saved forever on an incorruptible drive and all my dear ones will be waiting for me like the guys in blue shirts at the Apple Store.