Five Words by Kim Jackson

I have a habit that a few of my friends find disturbing.

I like to spend time in cemeteries.

Besides the fact that I’ve met some interesting people there, I like to walk in cemeteries because it puts life in perspective.

When I’m there it’s easy to imagine that one day somebody reading this article might be walking in the Palestine, Illinois cemetery and they’ll glance over toward Patterson’s homestead and see a tombstone that reads:

Kim Jackson

Born: May 2, 1957— Died: (date to be determined by God)

And what will be important on that stone is not the month, day or year of my birth or death, but the simple dash between them—a symbol that represents all the years of my life.

I “met” a woman in an old cemetery in Manassas, Virginia several years ago who didn’t have many years in her dash, but from what was written on her tombstone, I think she had a lot of life in her years.

Engraved on her tombstone were five simple words, five words that succinctly and beautifully summed up what I would surmise must have been a life well lived.

Could you sum up your life in five words? Could I?

Let’s pretend our lives ended today. When the engraver finishes the tombstone he realizes he has some extra space, so he calls up the people closest to us and says, “I’ve got a little room left—could you come up with, say, five words that sum up the focus of her life?”

What five words would those closest to us choose?

I’m confident that none of the following phrases apply to anyone reading this article, but based on resources invested, energy spent, conversation topics and priorities noted, I’ll submit these for a few folks I’ve known over the years:

His yard always looked great
He drove a sharp car
She was a fashion plate
He made the big bucks
She kept an immaculate house
He was a sports fanatic
He retired early and traveled
She married a gorgeous hunk

Far fetched, you say?

Well, I have another habit that may prove otherwise.

I collect obituaries. The best ones in my collection are from when I lived in Orlando. Every day the newspaper would highlight one of the deceased and the headline of that obituary would express the focus of that person’s life.

For example:

• Paula Stephens loved her collection of dolls
• Leroy Lewis mastered the pipe organ
• Mayme Bilenger loved her Bonsai trees
• Lyda Hadley co-founded nudist resort

I rest my case.

When Sociologist Tony Campolo interviewed 50 people age 95 or older, he asked, “Looking back over your life, what would you do differently?” Their responses were gathered in to three categories. First, these folks, age 95 or older, said they would take more risks. They wouldn’t play it so safe if they had another chance. Next, they would reflect more. There would be more “ponder pauses” the second time ‘round. And thirdly, they would do more things that would last after they’re gone—things of an enduring, eternal nature.

These are wise words coming from those nearing the cemetery gates.

Contrary to what you might be thinking, I don’t spend all my time contemplating death. But flying in an airplane is another place where I ponder eternity. And with good reason: the last time I was flying back to North Carolina, the flight attendant’s voice came over the intercom just as the plane was landing:

“Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Charlotte, North Carolina. And if you have a connecting flight here, we wish you a pleasant journey to your final destination.”

We all have a final destination.

And though we don’t get to choose how we are going to die, or when, we can choose how we are going to live, and we can be certain of our Final Destination.

By the way, the five words on the woman’s tombstone in Virginia were “She went about doing good.”

What   are   your   five   words?

You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (Acts 10:37, 38)