But a Vapour

James 4:14 

For what is your life? 

It is even a vapour, 

that appeareth for a little time, 

and then vanisheth away. 

Mortality - this is the common fate of all mankind. We may not have much else in common, but we all share the same destiny - the grave.

It really hit me last year when Heather lost her little girl. I saw that little coffin - not that much larger than a shoe box really - and thought "Babies shouldn't die". 

I never thought that I would have to face the same scary news - that OUR baby might die. Thankfully now, her odds are looking much better. But I don't know if there's anything that would scare a pregnant lady more than knowing that her child may not survive. 

All of this made me think for the first time of the mortality of children. I never really experienced that before - most of the people in my life who had died were either old or sick. One of my mother's best friends died  unexpectedly when she was 39 (I was about 14 at the time), and I also knew a couple of people who died of cancer before they should have (around ages 25-40).

This past week though, I've been faced with the mortality of someone my own age. One of my friends from home just died unexpectedly in his sleep. He was just a month past his 30th birthday. I wasn't particularly close to him lately - since we moved to Hong Kong three and a half years ago, I had seen him a few times when I was back home, but I didn't stay in touch with him or anything. But regardless, he was a big part of my life when I was younger. I had a crush on him for a while when I was 18 or so. He was kind of a "big brother" to the girls in the youth group at the time. He was one of the best guys you'd ever meet - so sincere. A bit rough around the edges but that only added to the charm. He talk his way out of anything the cops pulled him over for - I don't know how, but he seemed to ALWAYS get pulled over but NEVER get a ticket.

I'm thinking of his family and friends at this time. His sister was one of my bridesmaids and some of his closest friends still go to my home church in Australia. I know it must be affecting them even more than it is me. I wish that I could be back home to remember him with them. To laugh at the memories of a great guy, to cry with them because I'm going to miss him. I may not have been one of his closest friends - but he did make a difference in my life and he was a big part of a particular time of my life. 

I think with him dying, it has made me realise even more that we are all mortal and none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. So then we need to cherish each day that we do have. Hug the people you love, tell them you appreciate them. Live life with no regrets. Life truly is a vapour.