Thing #6

        Thing #6.  Do it while you can.

There are likely a few things you’ve been meaning to do. Not those “I-can-do-it-anytime” things, but those “someday-I- will” things.  Take a road trip. Look up an old friend.  Record your grandmother’s stories. Let me encourage you—do it now, while you can.

I lost an opportunity by waiting too long.

I work for a Christian organization and hear stories of people who pour their lives out for the good of others. One woman from our organization lived just an hour from me and every time I’d read about her it made me want to meet her.  She was able to talk about Jesus easily, naturally, everywhere she went. She befriended women of all ages. She wrote books, she spoke at conferences.

She sounds so cool, I’d often say to myself. I should invite her to come speak to a group of women from my church. Yeah, I should do that. I will. Someday.

But after a couple years of somedays, I heard of her sudden death and realized my opportunity was gone.

I wasn't going to make that mistake again.

Around that time, I interviewed another person who had been with our organization a long time, a popular writer and speaker.  One of my pastors greatly admired this writer, and I realized I might be able to get the two together.  I thought the writer would likely come over for dinner if his schedule allowed.  So I asked.  He and his wife came over for dinner, along with my pastor and his wife, and we all had a night to remember.

I was so glad I didn’t wait for someday.

What is it you’ve been meaning to do? Go ahead--do it. Don’t put it off.

One thing I think we all should do is capture our family stories. Here’s a website with some good questions to ask your parents, grandparents, your aunt and uncle.

http://genealogy.about.com/cs/oralhistory/a/interview.htm

Make a call, pay a visit. Do it.  While you can.