A green di-cut bicycle in the clouds. That’s what was on the front ofthe thanks-for-attending-the funeral-card that I received. No words of explanation about the bicycle were given because no explanation was needed. Everyone that knew the deceased knew what the bicycle represented. It was his LIFE SYMBOL.
He didn’t drive, but instead rode his bicycle everywhere. He rode his bicycle to work. He rode his bicycle to the grocery store. He rode his bicycle to most of his friend’s home. When he needed to go farther than his bicycle would carry him, he would hitch a ride in someone’s car; but, even then, many times he wouldsee if there was roomto squeeze his bicycle into their backseat.
His bicycle was a part of him.So much so, thatwhen the family needed a symbol that told the world who he was and what he was about, they all agreed that for their beloved brother, son, uncle his LIFE SYMBOL was a bicycle.
This beautiful expression of love from the family and this clear message from the deceased got me to thinking about LIFE SYMBOLS.
If you or I were to die today, whatLIFE SYMBOLwould our loved ones choose to represent us?
What LIFE SYMBOL would we want them to choose?
And if you looked at the people around you, what LIFE SYMBOL would you choose for them?
There arepeople whose LIFE SYMBOLis a football, or a hockey stick,or a computer. Their life is mostly centered around their hobbies and personal interest. They spend a lot of time and hard work cultivating their skills and knowledge in these areas. Their friendship base is mostly from these hobby groups, and it gives them pleasure.
I used to work with a lady whose daughter was a competitive ice skater. She would drive her daughter to 5 a.m. skating lessons each day and then back again after school.Her weekends were spent mostly at competitions, and she loved it. She was very proud of her daughter and it gave her a lot of joy. So my guess is that if she were to pass away,her LIFE SYMBOL would be an ice skate.
Therearepeople whose LIFE SYMBOLis their profession. Like my doctor friends who spend long hours at the hospital and at their office making people well. Their LIFE SYMBOL might be a stethoscope. Or my writer friends, who write early in the morning before going to their day jobs and write again at night pouring their thoughts out on paper. Their LIFE SYMBOL might be a typewriter.
There are those who would argue that we are complex creatures with wide and varied interests and so we have many LIFE SYMBOLS. To a point, I agree. But still, so often there is one overriding theme in our life. The thing that we devote ourselves to, that we always make time for no matter what. That we can’t live without. It is that which I am speaking of today.
If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, and that for your funeral you needed to select one solitary LIFE SYMBOL that was the summation of all that you were. What symbol would you choose?
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
“Whereas ye know not what will be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, here a little while and then vanisheth away.” (James 4:14)