“Do not squander your life”

This year I became a card carrying member of the Medicare system.  Occasionally in my life I pay attention to milestones. Usually though, I promise to circle back to what that means later.  Circling back has not been a strong suit of mine.

However, this milestone keeps nudging me to pay attention. I am not sure if it’s because my awareness of the much shorter life expectancies for far too many of God’s children or due to the mounting crisis’s facing our world.

My most recent nudge was being asked to write a reflection about today’s gospel. In it, Jesus tells the parable about the wealthy man who loses his life the same day he thinks he has it made and will not have to worry about anything in his life ever again. This man focuses solely on himself and does not spare a thought for the many who were hungry and in need of his abundant harvest. 

This year I have been wondering what I will tell God about what I have done with the generous gifts I have received throughout my life. Sometimes I think meeting God will be like an accounting system, tallying up good deeds and missed opportunities.

It reminded me of a conversation I had with a man who had ‘made it’. He was disgusted with me as he thought I had squandered my talent as a salesperson. He told me I could have made an incredible amount of money as a salesperson instead of working with people on the margins. Out of curiosity, I asked him what I was supposed to tell God when my number was up. While that question abruptly ended our conversation, it is a question that has stayed with me.

Over the past year, I have been trying to learn how to meditate. While reading a book by Thich Nhat Hanh, he wrote about a saying that is posted on many meditation centers around the world. The last line is “Do not squander your life.”

For me, today’s gospel is a wakeup call “not to squander my life” on what is important to this world.  Rather I will strive to be “rich in what matters to God.”  During this milestone year, I am going to ponder if I am being a good steward with the gifts I have been given. And hopefully I won’t have to be nudged so much to do so!