For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul? – Mark 8:36, DRB
At the end of our lives, many of the things we gave importance to won’t matter anymore. The things that stressed us so much, the tasks that worried us, the issues that we argued so much about, how much of such things do we think would still stand vital in that moment?
It wouldn’t even matter then how rich we are or how popular we’ve been. It won’t matter how much power we possessed or how many people are there to do our bidding.
At the end of our lives, what would surely matter is whether we have lived a meaningful life, whether we have loved well. Have we done all that we could to spread laughter and understanding and compassion? Have we tried to alleviate other people’s pain instead of causing it? Have we been men of peace instead of enmity and division?
For it is there at last that we will reap what we have sown. It is there where we can finally see the true fruits of our labors. At the end of it all, only truth, goodness and beauty shall prevail. If we have much of it, then we have lived rich lives indeed.
At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in. – Mother Teresa
The thing about hope is that it’s a positive force that shines the most when it’s dark. When everything’s going well, we hardly notice it’s there. But when things go against us, when our dreams fade and when we see no immediate reprieve from our troubles, that’s when hope does its best work for us.
"Where Hope Can Be Found"