Traveling through airports gives one a unique opportunity to watch people. Some of the people who drift by are bright and cheery. Others slip by clearly showing the wear of too little sleep, poor food, and no exercise. By the time we made Atlanta and found our bags still sitting in Chicago, I am sure we represented the latter in bad form.
Everything ached. My body, stomach, head, mind, and heart all reflected the negatives of the trip. I keep wondering what my tombstone would look like if others only knew me for the day. What would be the image? Could any positive words make the mark?
I realize that this might sound morbid, however it really was fun to write epitaphs in my mind to people I never knew outside of the observations for a few moments in time! Some of the tags went like this.
“Here rests a vain and self centered woman.”
“Her final thoughts and moves were of being #1 in the queue.”
“John was a cheery soul, always living life to the full.”
“May he rest in the peace that he never gave to any.”
“Our prayer is that she finds the energy that always escaped her in this life.”
“Innocent lost is heavens gain.”
“Joan only knew the best in life, may it continue through eternity.”
“A good and honest life is a blessed memorial; a wicked life leaves a rotten stench.” (Proverbs 10.7)
“rest, food, peace – we have arrived”
The pictures, colors, and emotions were all out on display. I saw God in a few places and hurt for the compassion gaps in others. Today is a new town with incredible opportunities. To some they will seem mundane; how I relate to the personnel in the hotel and at breakfast. To others they will be the only time our journeys touch in this life. You and I can make a difference. As we live in and for the moment with God, opportunities abound.
The slate is clean. I wonder what you and I will write on our tombstones today.
