What if you knew…?

It's one of those classic movie scenarios: the patient sitting uncomfortably on the paper-covered exam bench, still waiting for the doctor to return. This was just a routine physical, but for some reason he seems to be taking a little longer than usual. Finally the door opens and he slips in, clipboard in hand, professional expression - the cryptic kind that doctors undoubtedly learn in med school to avoid the conveyance of emotion.

He leans back against the sink, lets out a slow sigh, "Mr. Partain, I must prepare you for some difficult news."

Difficult news? Didn't see this one coming. Feeling pretty good. Worked out yesterday. Benched 245. Hadn't done that since college.

"You only have seven, maybe eight weeks to live."

Wow... so much for preparation!

What if the patient sitting on the cold exam table were you?
What would you say? What would you do?

Take a look at your life at this moment. Chances are you have responsibilities, agendas, things you one day hope to do, dreams you will eventually attempt. You probably think you don't have enough time in the day already... but what if you only had one month of time left?


It changes things. 
Suddenly your daily strategy, your annual resolutions, your life-long goals become... different. 


What makes this interesting, is that Jesus knew when He had 54 days left to live. I wonder if He allowed Himself that knowledge, if He dwelt on it or perhaps put it out of His human mind. We know He prepared Himself for the cross; we know He prayed in incomprehensible ways, that He drew His disciples close and spoke with them in His classic ambiguous way, foretelling the things that would happen.

The world still celebrates Christ's death on Good Friday, with an even more exuberant celebration of His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

In honor of that tradition, we, the Missoula Valley College Ministry, will live for 54 days... as though they were our last. We will look to the Cross, and as each day passes we will examine our own lives in deep, creative, spiritual ways.

The journey begins March 1st, 2011. Each week simply pull up this blog, read the challenge of the week… and complete it.

At the end of 54 days, on Easter Sunday (April 24), we will host a worship service at Missoula Valley Church commemorating the final days of Jesus' life - and the celebration of His Ressurection!

I challenge you to try living your life as though you had only 54 days to live! Re-ignite your purpose, your motivation!  Become closer to God through the practice of spiritual discipline, spiritual challenge… and see what happens!


Grace…
J.D. Partain