What Would You Do?

Thirty years ago, one Rabbi Berger spoke to his congregation about witnessing the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger with his daughter.   He spoke about what the astronauts were probably thinking as they remained alive for about 5 minutes after the explosion as they fell the 12 miles to the ocean below.

He spoke about how the astronauts had probably said to themselves things similar to: “if I had only known, if I had only realized, if I had only appreciated, then I could have. . .” during that frightful 5 minute fall.

If you knew when your last goodbye was going to be, would you make that goodbye full of love, warmth, and tenderness?

If you realized your time was limited, would you enjoy your remaining days more?

If you were aware of when everything was to be taken from you, would you appreciate those things around you more?

“That scene still haunts me” Rabbi Berger said as the sermon closed. “The explosion, and then five minutes.  If only I. . .If only I. . .If only I. . . and then the capsule hits the water, it's all over.  Then you realize, it's all the same – five minutes, five days, 50 years.  It's all the same, for it's over before we realize.”

“If only I could – you still can, you've got today.”

About three years after Rabbi Berger spoke to his congregation, he was flying from Denver to Chicago when the jet's rear engine exploded.  The jet continued to fly/glide for about forty minutes before it crashed in a field in Sioux City, Iowa.  The rabbi and his wife died, while their daughter and son survived.

Then you realize, it's all the same – five minutes, five days, 50 years.  It's all the same, for it's over before we realize.”  “If only I could – you still can, you've got today.”

What would you do? If you were put in a similar situation and it was going to end sooner than expected, what would you do? Would you call people? Would you pray? Would you hug those around you until the last moment? Live every day as it is the last. Take nothing for granted and love those around you. Spread happiness and love so that if it does end too early, you know it at least is ending well.

Author Info: Beatitudes Campus

At the foundation of Beatitudes Campus is the vision of Church of the Beatitudes pastors and congregation members to create a better alternative for older adults than the nursing homes of the early 1960s. The type of community they imagined was the first of its kind in Arizona. Beatitudes Campus is proud to continue the legacy of our founders, by being a leader in the field of aging services for over 50 years.