An Unexplainable Impact

January 26, 2020 - the world collectively joined in mourning as news rapidly spread of the passing of one of the NBA's most prominent forces, Kobe Bryant, his 13-year old daughter, Gianna, and seven others who were all tragically killed in a helicopter crash in California.

To be honest, I never really paid much attention to Kobe. I wasn't a dedicated fan and I didn't really keep up with his life outside of basketball. Yet I still felt (and feel) so deeply affected by his death, the deaths of the other eight victims, and the horrible event surrounding it. Even moreso now after viewing some of his past interview and video clips that have begun to resurface and really getting a glimpse into who he was as a person, on and off the court.

I was in my car heading back home from a trip to Houston when I first saw the news. Just one day prior I was out having an amazing time celebrating my birthday with friends, and in an instant I felt as if I had just lost someone close to me. When I first read the news on Facebook, like most people, I hesitated to believe it. I didn't want to believe it. To this day it still doesn't seem real.

As details began to emerge the hole in my heart for all those affected just kept cutting deeper and deeper. It's crazy to think that someone many revered and compared to the likes of Superman could be taken from this world so instantaneously and tragically. Almost scary even. That someone who had done...was doing...so much good in the world could fall victim to the inevitability of death at such a time as this. (yes i'm aware of his past. yes no one is perfect. yes even you. yes i believe people can grow, evolve, and change. yes i believe people can learn from their mistakes and never make them again. no i don't condone it. yes God forgives. no we're not going to debate about it. 🖤)

But it leaves me with these thoughts. . . .

No one is invincible or immune from death. No matter who you are, how much money you have, how much good you do for people, how much you love your family, how much you put back into the world or how good you are at what you do. We will all have to leave this earth someday. We will all have to stand before God, answer for our actions and give an account for what we chose to do with the life we were given.

And honestly, viewing death in light of eternity is probably the only glimpse of solace I can find in situations like these. To know that this isn't the end. To know that there's more than what is seen waiting for us on the other side. To know that his daughter is in one of her favorite places - right alongside her Daddy, and not left to navigate this cruel world without her peace - is the only piece of hope I can grab hold of in knowing that she left this earth way too soon. 

There is life after this life. But my question to you, to us is this: 

What are you doing now to ensure that the legacy you're building will be one worth leaving? 

How are you stewarding the gifts and talents that God has given you? How are you giving back to others? How are you making the world better? Who have you inspired lately? When's the last time YOU felt inspired? When's the last time you worked hard on your goals? When's the last time you put in the extra work to exceed your goals? How have you pushed yourself within the past year? Within the past month? Within the past week, even? Or have you simply become complacent?

I don't know about you, but I feel so inspired to take my life to the next level. To reach for my dreams.  To put in the work. To not leave any stone unturned.  To go after what I want and to not stop until I get it. To love more. To do more. To get the maximum amount of life out of this life. Cause once it's all said and done and the clock runs out, that's it. There are no replays. There are no do-overs. What you did and how you lived your life will be plastered on the scoreboard for all to see. One final remembrance as you head to the locker room to retire your jersey.

If one man's life can cause a whole generation of people to change their mentality. If one man's death can cause the whole world to stand in awe and disbelief. If one man's legacy can shake up a nation and inspire them to dream bigger, to rise higher, and to do more. Then how much more should we be doing for ourselves, our communities, and those around us while we're still on this earth?

Listen, all we have is now. Literally. So serve Jesus. Love others. Use your gifts while you still have time. Cherish each moment and make the moments count. Similarly, live your life in such a way that even those who have never met you will still feel the void left behind once you're gone and feel compelled to take up just a little bit more space with their own life. 

Cause when that final buzzer goes off and the scoreboard is lit, all we will have to go by are the plays that you made in each quarter of your life. Did you pass on all that God placed inside of you, or did you fearlessly take the shot every opportunity you got? Will it be a score worth keeping, or will it be one full of regrets? 

💜💛💜💛

"And I believe I've been given all this time so I can try and redeem it. Or make the most of this stop watch that I'm racing. You stop and watch you ain't racing. You erasing yo' minutes, you can't replace 'em. And at the end of yo' days when eternity's in yo' face, you had one life to offer up in His service or lay to waste..." 

Lecrae - Timepiece