Unfinished Business

The Reverend King Duncan once told about a letter that appeared in The Catholic Digest. A mother wrote that she was just finishing up a load of laundry, heading back upstairs when her kindergarten-aged daughter presented her deepest theological question. “Mommy,” she asked, “if it were the end of the world, and everyone was getting ready to die…” The mother stopped, shifted the basket, and said a quick prayer for wisdom to answer this question. “Yes?” The mother encouraged her daughter. The little girl continued: “Mommy, if the end of the world came, would you have to take your library books back?” 

Duncan reflected, “Obviously, that young lady did not want any unfinished business in her life.

“How about you? Is there some unfinished business in your life that needs to be taken care of? Is there someone you need to forgive? Are there amends to be made? A letter written? A phone call you need to place? A visit you need to make or a word or two that you need to speak?  

The late humorist and author Lewis Grizzard once told about a time when he was being visited by his minister in the hospital. Grizzard was scheduled to have open-heart surgery the next morning, and he confessed to his pastor that he had not exactly led a virtuous life. He asked if there was still time to repent. The minister looked at his watch and replied, “Yes, but I’d hurry if I were you.”

Let us pray: Loving God, thank you for loving us exactly as we are – right now in this moment. But we also thank you that you love us so much that you invite us to change and grow. We want to live healthy, whole, meaningful lives, and to that end, we ask for insight, courage, and strength.  Be especially close to those who feel the weight of the world on their shoulders; and with those who are in pain and suffering today. May your Spirit rest on each one of us bringing us your peace. Amen.