“Between the miles of open road

I lost sight of what might matter the most

I stumbled into the great unknown and found

That time won’t slow down.”

(From Collapsible Lung by Reliant K) 

Time won’t slow down. What matters? It all happens ‘sooner than you think’. 

Yesterday I was a boy, dreaming of adventure and challenge, of far off lands, heroic feats, passionate speech, and beauty at every turn. I had never dreamed of a job, or specific work… 

Today, I am a husband, father, grandfather and I watch my grandchildren dream of adventure… but I get to live it. Through miles of adventure, I have met people who do heroic feats, who speak passionately, who see beautiful things at every turn. 

My idea of heroism, adventure and beauty has changed a bit. I have always admired the righteous warriors, the front line hero’s, people who risk life, limb, and sanity to protect others. I still think highly of those folks, but I have come to realize that an ‘secular’ sacrifice is not quite the same as someone who gives up the world to follow Jesus. To become a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. That is where my admiration lies now. Heroes of the faith if you will. The adventure of living in God’s will – that is the greatest adventure. To surrender our will, to sacrifice our purpose to live in God’s purpose – that’s the good stuff. 

So to the question, the spinning thoughts behind the image, “sooner than you think”. We will meet God, sooner than you think. So, the questions: what will I do about it? 

What will you do about it? That question drives into the space behind my eyes, into my chest – not like a weight but like a light that is tearing apart the darkness that keeps trying to hide in those places is how can I, a mere man, an English class failure, champion of mediocre effort for years even look up at God and ask to serve? Ask Him for my faith to be increased, to allow me to work in the gifts of the spirit, to live for something “stronger than fear…brighter than apathy?” (Brighter than apathy – David Zach) 

How can I kneel before the God of the Universe, creator of everything and even imagine that I have anything worth giving? 

The only way, the only possible, unreasonable, unimaginable way is through God’s grace- his perfect outpouring of love. The sanctification received through Jesus blood, his precious sacrifice on the ‘old rugged cross’ – that mercy is how I can. 

Diving into the deep end, full of hope. Not hope to be a herculean adventure hero as I dreamed of as a child, not the hope of the teenager of a world full of wine, women and song, not even the hope of the twenty and thirty-something to be comfortable and financially above average. Rather a hope of opportunity to talk about the One that loves me beyond measure. The One that I love more than anything. A hope of an opportunity to be a minor piece of reconciling a soul to the Savior. 

This is the great adventure. This is what I dreamed of as a child but didn’t know how to filter the world out of the dream. When our dreams fall into line with what God has for us, our capacity changes. We tend to find satisfaction in having just enough. We learn to see beauty in each person, each sunrise, each encounter. Joy, in all circumstances. 

I found myself sitting by a bed this weekend. That bed contained my friend, who barring a miracle of God, will be ‘shuffling off this mortal coil’, as the veil between heaven and earth has become very thin for him. As I sat with him, I read some psalms, a bit about heaven, and thought about how soon he will have the joy of heaven, of being in the presence of his Lord, the Creator of everything, or he will experience a miracle if he stays- both extremely spectacular events.  My friend was diagnosed with cancer on December 5th, 2025. As I write this, on Monday, January 12, 2026 he has a few hours left of the 36 to 72 they gave him on Friday. He, however, is strong, but the cancer is overwhelming his systems. So, his soon is probably different than my soon, than your soon. His adventures here on earth are nearly done. He chose to love, to follow Jesus, to surrender his life to the Jesus, to the work of the kingdom. As I sat with him, I had Joy despite the heaviness of his impending departure. That joy was common among the believers that gathered to be present with him, and with his wife and family. 

But soon. 

Jesus’ brother James wrote – 

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (James 4:14)

And king David wrote:

Show me, Lord, my life’s end

     and the number of my days;

     let me know how fleeting my life is.

You have made my days a mere handbreadth;

    the span of my years is as nothing before you.

Everyone is but a breath,

    even those who seem secure. (Psalm 39:4-5)

Finally, the apostle Peter wrote:

for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,

but the word of the Lord remains forever.” (1st Peter 1:24-25

Constant reminders, through time, that time can’t slow down. So take a breath and take it in. Remember everyday that it all happens sooner than you think. Your youth passes, your children grow up, old age comes and goes, but our choices here determine our eternal destiny. 

Choose this day who you will serve – yourself, your money, the world? As for me, and my house… We WILL serve the Lord. 

Update – January 13, 2026. My friend, Chad Way, passed away around 8:30 this morning. I will miss his big smile and bigger heart. But I rejoice that he had made Jesus Lord of his life, and I will see him again on the other side of this life.