{Thoughtful Thursday} The End of the World

What would you do if you were informed that your terminal illness would only grant you a week longer to live? How about if there was only one day left before the world simply collapsed? Well, tonight is supposedly the night before my last day on Earth, and I'm afraid I have nothing to show. I also hold the firm belief that no man knows the date of the Second Coming of Christ (or, essentially, the end of the world), and therefore I see no reason in getting caught up in worry or fear. I am nowhere near perfection, but I am beyond willing to work hard in the hope of achieving it somewhere down the road and I feel safe in knowing my life is [mostly] in order.

Now, I've been asked a few times what I'm going to do before tomorrow's evident apocalypse. I've decided to humor those who are so eager to know. Whether I actually do these things will remain a mystery to those concerned.

1. Converse with as many random strangers as possible within three hours' time.

2. Tell my mother what I did in the summer of 2010.

3. Go skydiving. For real.

4. Get all my money exchanged for one-dollar bills and make it rain.

5. Write an email of sincere apology to a missionary.

6. Take the Elizabethan collar off my poor neutered puppy.

7. KARAOKE

8. Write a will. Just in case someone kills me because they think it really is the end of the world.

9. Wish all my family members and friends a Merry Christmas and tell each one how much I love them.

10. Paint a gigantic picture on a brick building.

11. Explain to my manager how to successfully treat people with genuine kindness.

12. Set up two of my friends. It just needs to happen.

13. Forgive.

14. Forget.

15. Go to the temple, hoping I can get a seat before the crowds pour in.

Dear friends, the world is not going to end tomorrow. While I appreciate your enthusiasm and persistence, I am simply not convinced. Therefore, I'll wake up at 5:30, get ready, work from 6:00 to 11:00, eat lunch, finish up my Christmas shopping, and drive to Granny's to be with my loved ones. I will keep my emotions in check and my lungs intact. Solemnly I pray that you'll live your December 21st to the fullest and not regret a moment of it. When you realize how great this can be, maybe you'll continue to act upon the same principle day by day and year by year. I've wasted too many mornings sleeping in, too many afternoons doing unnecessary things, and too many nights wishing I had used my time more wisely. Here's my wake up call. Whether you're king of the hill or you're at the lowest point of your life, there is always more to be said and more to be done. It's time to shape up! The best of luck from a fellow human.