Posted 08.17.2008
Regular readers of this blog know that I’ve been away this week to be with my family around the occasion of my grandfather’s funeral. It was a wonderful experience and a celebration of an exemplary life. Before I return to my usual observations on leading at the next level, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who sent e-mails, posted comments and called to share the thoughts, feelings and memories that the story of my Pa-Pa’s life evoked for you. It was an amazing gift to read everything you had to say.
There probably aren’t many standing room only funerals for 93 year olds but Pa-Pa’s was one of them. It struck me that the celebration of his life was a great reminder of the idea that when you approach death, it’s pretty unlikely that you’re going to say, "I wish I had attended a few more meetings." My hope for all of us is that, like my grandfather, we pass with no regrets.
The night before the funeral, my dad shared with me some papers that he had found in Pa-Pa’s apartment. There were a number of notes that my grandfather had written for himself over the years and I’ll close this post by quoting one in its entirety:
This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for some good purpose. But what I do with this day is important because I have exchanged a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. I hope I will not regret the price I paid for it. (Author Unknown)