Читать книгу Before We Say Goodbye: Preparing for a Good Death - Ray Simpson - Страница 35

The only motto I can remember from my childhood is the one taught me by the Boy Scouts: ‘Be prepared.’ In order to get my award for a camping trek, I had to satisfy the examiners that I had prepared for all sorts of exigencies. How do you pitch your tent when the ground is frozen? How do you find the right route when the wind blows the instructions from your hand? How do you light a fire to cook a meal if the matches are too sodden?

If the examiners had paid a lightning visit during those hours of emergency, would they have declared me ready to tackle the next award project?

Jesus told a story about the owner of an enterprise who entrusted its management to various people. When the owner paid a surprise visit, he found them asleep and the project in a shambles. Jesus’ point was that God is like the owner, and might call us from our earth responsibilities at any time.

This reminds me of another Boy Scout saying: ‘The rent we pay for being allowed to live on earth is to be useful.’

We need always to be on our toes, so that if death suddenly takes us, we are ready in our spirits, doing what we are meant to be doing at that moment, and ready for whatever lies in store for us next.