Enjoy the moments of your life

Here is a nice story that was meant to be funny, but it got me thinking instead.

The court jester was overcome with grief. His world was at an end! For a long time, he had served the Caliph at Baghdad and his court, keeping them amused whenever they called upon him. But in a moment of thoughtlessness, he had displeased his ruler who had ordered that he be put to death. 

“However,” said the Caliph, “in consideration of the merry jests you’ve told me all these years, I will let you choose how you are to die.” 

“O most generous Caliph,” replied the jester, “if it’s all the same to you, I choose death by old age!” 

Now that’s a smart answer.

I guess as people in business. we know that we have the power to choose, and we decide on things. However, the choice for the way we go is not ours to make.

We know (all too well) the fragile nature of life, and perhaps it is for the best. If we were guaranteed 90 years on Earth, we would be mighty tempted to wait until the last year or so to get serious about God (just like putting off those term papers in college!)With a realization of the uncertainty of life, we recognize the need to be prepared at all times. 

Futurists today say that by 2025, science, technology, genomics and all their related studies and development towards health care can bring people to what is now called “Longevity Escape Velocity.” Ray Kurzwell, whose technology predictions have been uncanny accurate, explains that technology powered by Artificial Intelligence and other related tech can prolong people’s lives. For every year that we live, medical science and biotech can extend a person’s life one year more each year; thereby prolonging life that can make it possible for people to live beyond 100 and more years.

Now this will create a crisis situation to all the welfare programs. People are living longer and retirement at 60 becomes too early for many. But notice one thing though, no one can guarantee immortality. And then what comes next?

Somebody says, “one thing I have observed is that a lot of old people really seriously pray, whereas the younger ones don’t.” His friend responded: “That is because old people are cramming for the final exams.”

When we are young, we seem to have a sense of inconvincibility and immortality within us and we never get to think about things like these. But the older I get, the more hospital visitations I have to make, and a lot more funerals I have to attend. Experiences like these somehow makes one pause and think. This is why I am in full agreement when one wise and seasoned speaker said, “If I go to parties, I waste my time and I do not learn much. But when I attend funerals, the situation makes me think about things I normally do not,or would not think about.”

The psalmist in scriptures prays this way: “LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly, every man at his best state is but vapor.” (Psalm 39:4-5). 

Therefore, we need to make every moment count. We need to make wise decisions and be careful enough to make good choices.

Some people I know are so “super-spiritual” that they are not making sense anymore. They are not being productive. Instead, they often say that they will just wait for the Lord to come, as they cannot wait to live the rest of their life in heaven. It is a strange thing that many people want to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.

Meanwhile, we need to be fruitful and churn out meaningful work.

I love the Book of Ecclesiastes. The wise King Solomon says we need to enjoy our life’s work.  ^“I have seen what is best for people here on Earth. They should eat and drink and enjoy their work, because the life God has given them on Earth is short.” God gives some people the ability to enjoy the wealth and property he gives them, as well as the ability to accept their state in life and enjoy their work. They do not worry about how short life is, because God keeps them busy with what they love to do.

I guess that is where the secret lies; We do good work, be productive, and God gives us the enjoyment part. The book concludes with this: “...here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”

May you enjoy every moment of your life. Share the blessings with others and put nobility into everything you do. Love the work you do and do the work you love. May you be prepared for the joys that await those who are prepared when this life is over! 

(Culture of Personal Excellence is a one-day 10 a.m.-5 p.m. program designed to equip Millennials to develop their potential and succeed in business, career or their profession. This will happen on July 28 at Ybizz Incubator – a new co-working space located at the 27th floor of PBCom Tower in Makati. Limited seats available. For further inquiries contact April at +63928-559-1798 or register online at www.successoptionsinc/cpe).