525,600

525,600 minutes. That’s how many minutes are in a year, (at least according to Rent). We have limited time in this place, so let’s make it count.

Tonight as I drove from Dallas to Waco by myself, I had my Broadway playlist on shuffle, as I often do on road trips. Seasons of Love from Rent began playing. As I listened in today’s context, the song which I have listened to dozens, if not hundreds, of times took on new meaning.

How could a song I’ve listened to so many times suddenly take on such a drastic new meaning that I started crying and revisiting the meaning of life for the last 30 minutes of my trip? Today, I attended the funeral of my last grandparent.

In the wake of said tragedy, I spent a lot of time surrounded by family which I have not truly appreciated the way I should have. We spent an evening, not on a holiday (WOW!), sitting around the kitchen table having a laugh and telling stories. As I drove home this evening, I began reflecting on the importance of every moment and the temporary-ness (is there a word for that?) of this life and I have a few takeaways.

• Cherish every moment, you never know which could be your last.
• A life with grudges is no life at all, so forgive fully and forgive often.
• Acknowledge others for their good and love them through the bad.
• Have grace for all people and circumstances.
• Get coffee when you say you should get coffee!!
• Prioritize people.
• Patience is always necessary.
• Don’t forget to love yourself.
• Stand by others in the hard times, even if it seems like all the time because that’s when they need you most.
• Don’t give up on people, they will surprise you.
• Love is the legacy you will leave, whether you did or didn’t love. So love well, love fully, love always and love all.

I may only be 21 and these may be common sense but I think we, as a society, fail to do them all too often.

As the Rent song explains so well, life truly is measured in love. If such a secular thing as the musical Rent (and trust me it is VERY secular) can recognize the importance of love as our purpose, then why do we, as Christians, fail to see it that way so often.

Let’s remember that we are called to love. Love is not just a feeling. The Bible tells us that love is a verb and calls us to love in radical ways, the way Jesus loved. This verse is so often used in weddings, but let’s apply it to the way we treat those around us. Let this redefine the way you live your life.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

At the funeral today and at every other funeral I’ve ever attended, there has never been a mention of how well off the person was, how many trophies or awards they had received or the possessions they had. They won’t talk about how many followers you had on Instagram or how you had a 4.0 GPA in college. The stories are always of love. Those things can seem like the biggest thing in the world at the moment, but let’s remember our purpose; love.

I urge you to love more fully and wholly as you return to scrolling the internet. Remember that love is your purpose and will become your legacy. So love well, love often, love always and love all.

Emily