Last Supper

What would your "Last Supper" be like?  Who would you invite?  What would you say?  How would you spend the evening?  Most importantly, how would you want to be remembered long after?  Really think about these questions, and maybe even write down your thoughts.  If you are like me you might frequently find yourself saying things like, "I will do X when I feel better," or "I will be better about doing Y when I have more time."  The more we realize how fragile life can be, the more we know that any supper could be our last.  Therefore, we should make a vow to always say what's in our hearts when we have the chance, give an extra hug when you have someone in arm's reach, let someone know they are on your mind and how much they mean to you, find joy in mundane tasks (since you are still here and able to do them).  AND...at the risk of sounding cliche, PLEASE never go to bed, or leave for the day, mad or with an unresolved conflict.  Need a little motivation to stick to that last one?  I often think of the victims of September 11th...they never got to "make things right" or tell someone they loved them at the end of their day.

As you think about what your own "Last Supper" might be like it is important to remember that when we "go" we don't take possessions, job titles, awards, or social status/popularity with us.  The Lent reading for Holy Thursday states, "Do not ask 'Does my life have meaning?  Have I made any difference in the world?'  Those questions speak about accomplishments, which you cannot take with you into the next world."  When we let God's love work through us and we share that love through our actions and good deeds, it causes our soul to grow.  Our soul – the only part of us that will be left and moving on.  That is what we should be focused on developing.  It will be our only representative later, and in so many ways it determines our quality of life now.  I feel that in this life we should care the most about how we have made other people feel.  I know the impact that a kind word, a note, a hug, a laugh have had on me.  I want to be that for others. God is love, and I want to spread that around!

When thinking about who I would invite to my “Last Supper” and what I would say, a chapter in Anthony B. Robinson’s “Common Grace” provided some important reminders.  The section is titled “A Person Is A Person Because Of Other Persons.”  He talks about the path he took in life and all of the family members, friends, neighbors, teachers, colleagues, etc. who shaped him along the way.  When we stand in front of people we are not just standing there as one, single person.  We are a collection of all of the people who have loved us, supported us, and believed in us along the way.  In today’s world we are so encouraged to be individuals and achieve and accomplish for ourselves…and then take all the credit.  It is important to remember who taught you the stories that then guided the unfolding of your own story.  It didn’t just write itself.  Robinson warns, “When we push the notion of individual autonomy to such unquestioned extremes, as is common today, we tend to lose perspective on the truth of interconnectedness.”  My point in all of this is: Don’t wait to thank people for the role they have played in your life, and keep thanking them and loving them.  Then move forward and make sure you help nurture as many other lives as you can.

One last thought…since this post also makes me think of food (what doesn't?!), another thing to think about is giving up something in your life that is really bad for you...cigs are an obvious one, but I mean things like soda, candy (at least anything with dye in it - yes, M&Ms, Skittles, etc.), something you love that has way too many ingredients you can't pronounce.  It has a lot to do with understanding your worth, dusting off your willpower, and having the drive to truly improve your life.  Trust me, you will feel so much better, in so many ways, and it will probably push your "Last Supper" off by a few years!