Never too early, but sometimes too late

We will, at some point, get back to the daily lectionary, but not today.  I have spent a good part of the day getting to hear stories that tell the story of the man from our church that died suddenly last week.
They were wonderful, even beautiful  stories about a man that loved his family and took advantage of the time he had to spend with them.  For obvious reasons, I won't get into any specifics of the stories here.  But as I was listening to them I was convicted by the example his life was.
So often we get focused on 'what's next' or what some people have called the 'tyranny of the 'urgent'.  Meaning that if you let it the thing that has to happen next, will take time, energy and focus away from the things that are important in the long term, not just for the next 5 minutes, the next 5 days or even the next 5 months.  If we don't intentionally carve out time for the things that are important (really important, eternally important) in your life, other things (less important things) will quickly fill up all of the spaces on your calendar and take up all of your energy and focus.  
I don't have much time but I feel like this is something important to share.  If you are reading this, your 'real life' has already begun.  The question is, are you living it like it is your real life?  Are you living it like it is your one chance at this thing?  
Every moment we have is an opportunity to live - and really live a full and whole life.  And the  harsh reality is that once passed, you can never get those moments back.  It is true too that none of us is sure how much time we have, which is why Jesus called us to be ready, on watch and prepared.  
So tonight I am going to figure out a way to spend some time where my wife and my children are my focus.  I am going to try going forward to not let the urgent - but fleeting - concerns monopolize my time and energy and live each day to the fullest.  This is what we are called to do as Christians, but living this way is not some sort of sacrifice - it is the fulfillment of the promise Jesus gives us of a whole and full life, living into the Kingdom of God even here and now.  
Stop reading and go do something important or at least be with someone important.