Don’t Be A Dot

Many years ago when I was teaching a church class, I looked over at the blackboard and saw on this 8×4 blackboard up in the far right corner a small dot.  A completely clean board with one small dot in the upper right hand corner.  The spirit came over me and I thought about, after my life was through, sitting down with Jesus and He would say “my dear, I am so proud of you and all that you have done in your life was pleasing to me, but let me ask you a question?”  “See this dot, that represents all that you accomplished in your life, and again, I am so proud of you, but see all this (spreading his hand all over the dark board) this was what you planned to accomplish when you left my presence.  What happened?”  I think I would start treading water so to speak, and say “well I was afraid”… and Jesus would say “afraid of what?”  “Well, what others would think, lots of things:  I was afraid to fail, I was afraid people would laugh or talk about me,” and I am sure I would go on and on with my list, but I know my Lord would look at me with all the love in His heart and tell me all was well.  The clincher is I would be thinking yeah why did I not do what my heart’s desires were, why did I worry about what others would think, why did I fear so much?  I am sure each of us left the presence of the Lord with so much vigor of what we would do here on this earth. How could I look my brother in the eyes and say I know you suffered that I might be, but I was lazy, or too busy, or I just had other things that I made more important. Don’t be a dot…fill your life with learning and serving and making the most of each precious day.