But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. – Abraham Lincoln from the Gettysburg Address

Yesterday we got the news that a fellow Mavidean, James Justice, had passed away.

Death is shocking to many of us because of the finality of it all. There is no more time to be spent with the deceased, no more jokes to be laughed at, no more meals to be had.

We see ourselves, our lives, our choices from this lens and are faced with the finality in our own lives.

All of our yesterdays are past, they are no more. Tomorrow is not promised to us. But in the finality of our yesterdays and the uncertainty of tomorrow lies our hope for today. We have each day to do our best, to become our best and give others our best.

And by embracing this time we have and giving it our all we honor those that have gone before us.

It may not be fair that we get to have today and James (and others) did not.

It isn’t about fair. It is about making the most of the time we have and giving of ourselves in love for others.

I sent out this part of the Gettysburg Address because I believe that Abraham Lincoln makes the point better than I ever could.

It is for us to be dedicated to the great task before us. To honor the deceased by living in a way they would be proud of.

Make it a great day.

Jake