Mountain Top

"When you get to the top of your mountain and look down, will you be pleased with what you see? Will you have regrets, or will you know you have done your best? Make sure you live your life in such a way, that you're pleased when you look down from the top of your mountain." - Ernest Edwards Sr. (not verbatim)

It's common in obituaries to list facts about a person that I'm not entirely sure matter or give any color to who they were or the way they impacted the lives of others. Trying to write those things about Dad seem foreign to me, so I apologize in advance if anyone may be caught off guard. Dad said that "Edwards always have to be different," maybe not entirely by choice, but they just are and maybe that's why. Maybe it's because the lessons he taught were too rich to be summed up in one page, or the essence of who he is seems to live in inside of my heart and mind and I can't separate myself from them. Either way, I have to write what's true...

What's true is that Dad died in 1981. When he gave his life to Jesus (Yeshua) he received a new spiritual birth and was not the same person he was before. I don't remember much from back then since I don't think I was born yet, but the man I got to know as I grew older was someone of great conviction for the things of God, unshakable faith, a man who loved fervently, was determined to live righteously and someone who was never too "up" help someone who was down. Never too "down" to not look up to the One who could help him. He was often difficult for people to be around. Some of that was by choice because he made an effort believe and live according to God's word and not by his or anyone else's feelings or perceptions...some...I think was just how God made him. He knew he wasn't easy, that's why he cherished the relationships he was able to have for as long as he could have them. One thing that was very evident as his time drew near to leaving was that He loved God with all his heart, mind, soul and strength, and he loved his neighbor as himself. He believed in equity and wanted everyone to get as much love as the next person. 

Honestly, there are so many lessons he taught to everyone who knew him, but the most important thing that he would want to tell each of us is to know GOD for ourselves. Not a version of Him, but the GOD who is able to make you a new creation. The one you not only read in the bible, but the ONE who actually can give you true LIFE.

Most of the people he loved and probably loved him are all of you who are reading this right now. You are the people thinking of the good times you had together, the things he may have said to challenge you, encourage you, remind you of how important your one life really is. Maybe you had laughs together or shared tears. Perhaps you wish your relationship was better, that you would have said you loved him or heard "I love you" more, spent more time, or spent less ... I'm not sure where your relationship ended. What he usually said when these kinds of events happened were

"Owe no one anything, but to love them. Keep your accounts current." -Bible.  

So that's what you should do. You should remember that your life, and everyone around you has a limit. You can never get a moment back so make sure it counts. You have a mountain you are climbing right now. If you were to die today, would you look back and think you've done well with the one precious life you have? Or would have a mountain of regrets? Live in such a way that you are pleased when you look down from the top of your mountain. 

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