The Bucket List

Now that we're back in Del Rio, I have been spending a lot more time working on the two talks that I will be giving when I return to SIU in October. Because I'm now an alumni of Invervarsity Christian Fellowship, they offered to fly me out there to speak at their fall retreat, and I am so excited for this opportunity to inspire a new generation as I was inspired when I was a student!!

One of the talks that I will be giving is about creating a contagious witnessing community at SIUC. As I've reflected on what this means, I am repeatedly reminded of a powerful scene from one of my  new favorite movies - The Bucket List. Starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, the movie tells the story of two terminal cancer patients who agree to live it up before they kick the bucket. Far more than just an enjoyable film, The Bucket List is a moving example of how deeply we can impact the lives of others simply by loving others as Christ loved us.

Half way through the movie, these men have a pivotal conversation while visiting the pyramids in Egypt. Freeman's character - who is something of a "know it all" - explains that the Egyptians had an interesting belief about death. They claimed that when you get to the gates of heaven, the gods ask you two questions, and how you answer determines whether or not you get in. First question: Have you found joy in your life? Second: Have you brought joy to others? The filmmakers believe that, as you get older, your life becomes all about these two questions. What have you accomplished, and - more importantly - what have you done to help others?

That is why I am drawn to this quote as I plan out this talk. It emphasizes that, although our culture pushes you to focus only on your own fulfillment and success, what ultimately matters is much bigger than that. We were put on this earth to further God's purpose, and to help others experience the profound freedom and joy that comes with accepting His grace.

At the end of the film, you get to see how deeply these two men were impacted by this unlikely friendship. At one point, Nicholson says of Freeman: "He saved my life, and he knew it before I did. I'm deeply proud that this man found it worth his while to know me. In the end, I think it's safe to say that we brought some joy to one another's lives."

They were complete strangers who had nothing in common except the fact that they were both about to die. But because they chose to open up and share their lives - both the good and the bad - with one another, they were able to change each other for the good. Ultimately, the film is not about the adventures they had or how much they were able to do before the end, but about their relationship and how God was able to work through their conversations to bring these two lost souls home.

I've had my own bucket list for a while now, but I think I need to reevaluate it. While I still think it would be awesome to visit New Zealand or make a feature film, I can't think of anything more rewarding than to know that I was able to affect even one person's life like that.