Krauthammer announced today that he is dying. In fact, he revealed he has been given only a few weeks to live. That itself is tragic. But it is not what captured my attention.
What grabbed me by the soul was something a dying man wrote in a farewell message:
I leave this life with no regrets.
It was a wonderful life -- full
and complete with the great loves
and great endeavors that make it
worth living. I am sad to leave,
but I leave with the knowledge
that I lived the life that I intended.
-- Charles Krauthammer
I don't know that I am weighed down by regrets. I really don't think so. Sometimes however, I find myself fearing they may appear. I want to be able to write what Krauthammer wrote. More than that, I want to live it.
As special as Max was, I am not comparing a dog's life to a man's. I am simply drawing a parallel. When Max left us, he left with dignity; and, I believe, no regrets. I think that is possible for each of us. Possible. Achievable. Difficult.
Regret I think, is eradicated through purpose and love. When we live on purpose and in our purpose the suction cups of regret lose their stickiness. No matter what the specifics of an individual's purpose-path may be, universally we share this: Our greatest purpose is to love and be loved. Max demonstrated it. Krauthammer beautifully wrote it. The greatest teacher-philosopher-spiritual-guru (who happened to be the Son of God) said it -- Love God, Love others, Love yourself. Boom... no regrets!
Max was a pure soul. In reality, he probably couldn't do anything else but love and be loved. You and I have choices to make. Krauthammer concluded: I lived the life that I intended. I like that. I intend to have no regrets.
Thank you Charles. Thank you Max.
For now...
D
