Time is Running Out

When I was younger, my mom used to say "time waits for no man..." and I was not exactly sure what that really meant.  I had assumed that it had something to do with the fact that I perpetually ran ten to fifteen minutes late.  As I got older however. I had more life experience and realized that we truly do not know the hour that our time is up.  Not to be morbid, but each person will either die or experience the promised second coming of Christ as promised in Scripture.  We read the story of the bridesmaids and their oil or lack thereof.  The lesson, of course, is to remain vigilant in our day to day life.  Understandably, we would not have our impending 'end' at the front of mind regularly, but it is something to contemplate once in a while.  

My son has recently picked up on the teaching that Jesus will come again to earth but noone knows the time or date.  For some reason, he has been asking many questions about it and asks fairly regularly, "Mom, do you think it will be today?  Maybe tonight?"  Part of me is thinking he is putting off cleaning his room in case it was done in vain considering the great possibility of the fulfillment of this great promise.  But it did put it more in the forefront of my own mind as he genuinely considers it fairly regularly for some reason right now.

Having had a sibling pass away suddenly and losing a parent after a longer period of decline in health, this subject has greater meaning to me practically as well as spiritually.  Am I ready to 'go' or 'meet my maker' today?  Do I utilize the sacrament of reconciliation regularly?  Am I sharing my talents?  My time?  My ability to help others while I am healthy enough to do so and have the freedom to do so?  If I really know and beleive that my 'time is running out', am I living in a way that settles me in the deepest part of me?  Noone really wants to die, generally, I suppose but it is going to happen.  Today I choose to live knowing this, keeping conscious of the precious gift of time today.