Building Relationships--Until Death DOES Part

Not 30 minutes ago I learned that a coworker of ours passed away yesterday. He went into the hospital last week for lung-related issues. I was planning on visiting him in the hospital. That's not going to happen now.

Ten days ago was the last time I talked to him. He was having e-mail issues and I got him squared away. I joked with him about how he needed to take some classes at our company's training facility. He shot back that he wouldn't be around long enough to use them. In hindsight, that's prophetic, but actually was just the way he'd respond to anybody about anything.

We spend our time working our butts off in the office, many times going in early and staying late, and putting in time on weekends. We make our obligatory appearances at functions for our kids, our churches, and our political and charitable organizations. We see friends and say, "We need to get together sometime soon." Until the day you find out, like I just did, that the friend is no longer there. And one day it'll be my turn to go, and yours as well.

People matter. Not things. Not ideas. Not who won the election, or whether the stock market is rising or falling, or how much longer we have before gas prices start climbing again. All the rest is just clutter that gets in the way of relationships.

So the next time you are tempted to put off getting together with a friend, think before you say no. Live your life as if each get-together with those you love will be your last. The world won't come to an end if you take 30 minutes for lunch with someone you haven't seen in awhile. Your company's production line won't grind to a halt because you came in 30 minutes early instead of an hour early, just so you could read your daughter a story before she left for school. Meet the needs of your heart as well as the needs of your life. Have no regrets.