Chasing Daylight

Chasing Daylight

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to
love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among
things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall
endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Inordinate time and effort went into my three careers, Navy, business, and ministry. Through all twenty Navy years my conviction was the Navy slogan “The Navy Comes First” including before family and loved ones; and my priority was doing the best job, getting the best fitness report, moving toward promotion to the next rank.

Eight years in my own defense related business had me away from home 75% of every year, driving forty-thousand miles a year between Harrisburg and wherever, in the air enroute to California, Australia, Canada; Linda at home with the children.

The years of full-time parish ministry, though far better because the rectory was adjacent to church and office, my priority was church work when it could and should have been family, those I love and those who love me, family and friends.

In the car on the way to Panama City Beach on Friday afternoon an email arrived from John quoting a professional journal piece (quoted below). The article is apt and timely for everyone, especially for me having consciously deliberately purposefully closed out Ordinary Time in the weeks after my October episode while waiting uncertainly for Cleveland and now living by grace in +Time. Sitting in the car at Pier Park, I read the email and ordered the book with my iPad: Chasing Daylight: How My Forthcoming Death Transformed My Life by Eugene O’Kelly. Can’t wait to read it. 

Chasing Daylight

On May 24, 2005 Eugene O'Kelly stepped into his doctor's office with a full calendar and a lifetime of plans on his mind. Six days later he would resign as CEO of KPMG. His lifetime of plans dwindled to 100 days, leaving him just enough time to say goodbye before he died of cancer. 

The book "Chasing Daylight" chronicles O'Kelly's last days and the title comes from O'Kelly's routine of playing golf with his wife after getting home from work--playing golf, chasing daylight. The book is a confirmation that our lives and that the people in them are temporary joys, but the time we spend enjoying them is never lost. And if we conquer our fears-even the fear of death-we can conquer anything. 

As a professional accountant O'Kelly was used to making lists and here are some of the items he included on one of his last lists: Get legal and financial affairs in order, unwind relationships, simplify, live in the moment, create great moments, perfect moments. One of the quotes in his book is "but if paperwork is enough to break your spirit--and it is--then how can you have anything left?" 

These days we may not have much "paperwork" but how about adding to it emails, Facebook invites, claim reports, quotes to respond to, etc. So this is a simple exhortation to keep things in perspective and balance. We all want to work hard and make a difference. But note that many of the things on O'Kelly's last list involve relationships. I especially like the "live in the moment" and "create great moments." 

So no matter what or who you are dealing with, try to keep in mind how temporal it all is and what really matters is how we treat people. Since we are in one of the most relationship driven businesses there is that means we have more opportunities than most to create great, special and meaningful moments with so many different people. By doing so, not only will we feel more complete in ourselves, we will almost certainly be creating goodwill that will at the same time help our businesses too. 

Or said differently, creating daylight for others can be as rewarding as chasing it for ourselves.


I would never wish to return to Ordinary Time. Whoever hasn’t moved into +Time might consider it. It’s not unlike the dawning of one’s own Easter.

Tom+


Sunset: thanks, RevRay