This morning I listened as a friend described a funeral she attended last week for a close relative. At the end of the funeral service, they played a song by a well known hard rock band. I asked her why that song and she responded that he listened to that song everyday as a motivational tool for his work.

It caused me to think again. What is the song I want to inspire my day? There are a number of songs I could point to, but consider ”Live it Well” by Switchfoot –

I wanna sing with all my heart a lifelong song
Even if some notes come out right and some come out wrong
‘Cause I can’t take none of that through the door
Yeah, I’m living for more than just a funeral
I wanna burn brighter than the dawn

I got one life and one love
I got one voice, but maybe that’s enough
Cause with one heartbeat and two hands to give
I got one shot and one life to live
One life to live,
And every breath you take is a miracle

Life is short; I wanna live it well
One life, one story to tell

As he approached the end of his life, Paul reminded his readers of two things. First, he was confident that he had fought the good fight, finished his race and kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). Second, he contrasted his own life with that of Demas who chose to love the world and deserted Paul and their ministry (2 Timothy 4: 10).

One man recognized that life is short and lived it with the belief that he was living for more than “just a funeral.” The other decided to live for the moment.

If you have one life, one story to tell….how will you live?