Celebrating While There’s Still Life
“It’s very rare.” My friend, Howard, called on his drive home from Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. “And fast-growing.”
Howard’s cancer diagnosis came out of the blue. “They’re saying a matter of weeks.” I was stunned. Everyone was stunned.
His wife, Chris, along with their children, decided to throw a Life Celebration while Howard was still alive. Family and friends who were unable to attend were invited to send videos and write stories of remembrances. An estimated 125 guests filtered through their home that day. The food was catered, friends volunteered to oversee the serving and clean-up, and Howard had the time of his life.
An anonymous quote describes this event so well:
“Remember this moment, cherish this story, celebrate this life.”
A few short weeks later, Howard was gone from this spinning planet. But this exquisite gift—this affirmation that his years on earth mattered to so many people. What a challenge it must have been for his family to plan a celebratory party while holding sorrow and grief, knowing they would be saying a final good-by. Soon.
There are a couple sentences in a letter Paul wrote to new believers in Philippi that stand out to me:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” – Philippians 2:3-4
What if we could look out for the interests of others? What if we could commend and applaud the people in our lives—now—instead of waiting for a funeral?
Simple things, like the baking of pumpkin scones and inviting a friend to tuck her feet beneath her with a steaming mug of tea. This is in appreciation of our friendship. I don’t ever want to take you for granted.
The ordering of pizza and an invitation to a child’s entire baseball team. This is because I’m proud of you. This is because I want our home to be a place where you and your friends like to hang out.
The preparation of good food and the lighting of candles for no particular reason. This is in celebration of our marriage and the fact that the kids are away for the evening. Do you know how much I love you?
Gatherings, celebrations, food prepared in love—to mark the date, to acknowledge the person, to say the things that are most important, to value others above ourselves.
