Death is stalking you. Don’t wait to live until he arrives unannounced. Expect him anytime. In the meantime, live your life with joy and passion. Every single day.
“Death came knocking on my door.
He waited until Midnight.
I heard the tap, tap, tap
and knew he was there.
I peeked around the window curtain
and saw a shadow holding a staff.
In the fog of the night,
I felt a chill,
and ran to the hallway.
What if I refused to answer the door?
What if I didn’t want to go yet?
I had so much left to do.
I had a list of things
that were undone.
I had tasks to perform,
and people to support,
and I was needed.
It occurred to me that the list
might be my salvation.
I went through it in my mind,
hoping that it would delay Death
another day.
As I strenuously fought the urge
to open the door,
the tapping went quiet.
Perhaps Death had left for a while.
I went back to my list,
and put off most of the items on it.
I still had time.
I could make the list last.
In a while, though,
the tapping was back,
and became a hard knock at the door.
I went to the window,
and saw a dark figure clearly outlined.
There was no doubt he was there for me.
In knew that my list
would never be completed,
and I resigned myself to the inevitable.
Come on in,
I said.
Guests are always welcome.
I decided to give death a chance.
Perhaps he could give me a hint
at what lay beyond Midnight.
I offered him coffee,
and took a seat
in the living room.
I took my list,
burned it,
and had a last sip of coffee.
He smiled and said,
not yet.
Make another list,
and this time,
complete it.
I will be back again.
But, next time I won’t knock at the door.
He left,
and I still wondered
what lay on the other side of Midnight.