I ‘ve got some bad news for those of you who are planning on staying here on earth forever. I’m afraid cutting back on cholesterol and taking dietary supplements, just ain’t going to do it. 

I can understand your concern if this is it for you, and you have no place else to go. But the truth is, no matter what you do, you’re still going to have to leave here one day. So like it or not, you may as well give up looking for earthly immortality in the latest miracle remedy from the media.

Now, perhaps you may think me a quitter, someone whose given up on life. Well, I’m afraid your wrong about that. I have absolutely no intention of punching my own clock. But when my time finally comes, I’m not going to argue about it. After all, I’ve been hanging around here for fifty plus years, and I ‘ve already gotten more then my money's worth.

You see, when I first arrived here, I was immediately gifted with the love of a caring family. They weren’t rich or perfect by any means. But they did do everything they could to feed, clothe and protect me. It wasn’t long after that, that I was given the loyalty and trust of friendship in my earliest childhood years. Thus, I was well provisioned to endure my visit, and quite a visit it was.

I have built things, made things, and enjoyed them with others. I have helped, and have been helped. I have laughed and cried, tasted victory and defeat. I have seen the horrors of war. The blasphemous thundering explosions; the ravaging fires; the hungry children, and the tears for the dead and maimed. I have been hungry, cold, sick, scared and heartbroken too. But I have also seen the fall of Satan’s Red Star in the east, and the rising of a new sun. I have seen men lay down their lives for others, and the terrible plagues of the ages cured. I have seen men take to the sky in machines and leave their foot prints in the dust of the moon.

I have savored the magic of beautiful things too. The love of a woman; the trusting smile in my children eyes; fawns dancing in green meadows, and birds effortlessly soaring in the blue and white skies. I have seen the oceans pound on beach and rock, and thundering fury of lightening in sky. I have seen the colors of flowers set aglow by the sun’s sweet kiss, and the gentle rains that quenched their thirst. I have flown across oceans, and from mountain tops glazed out upon lush green valleys and golden desserts. I have seen the rainbows of city lights beckon through the darkness, and moon sprinkle its silver beams upon the waters. I have seen the majesty of blazing pink skies at sunset, and the stars twinkle in the heavens at night. I have felt the cold night wind on my back and the warmth of the sun upon my face.

These are the wonders of life that God has locked within our souls. What then does death deny me? For it is death that leads me to a place of new wonders, where I shall kneel before God in his glory, and personally thank him for the wonderful life he had given me..