Our time is not ours

I am not one to do a movie review so I won’t even attempt to but I have to talk about the Best Man Holiday and one of the most important lessons that I got from the movie. FINALLY…FINALLY the Best Man Holiday is out in Africa and I quite literally felt the entire continent celebrating with me this weekend. *insert excited smiley here*

To avoid being a spoiler for those that have not watched the movie, I will be extremely vague and not reveal too much of the movie, but enough to get my point across. I loved the Best Man and so to see the entire cast back again for the sequel got me even more excited. They have all matured in their respective acting careers and it shows during the course of the movie. There was a point during the movie where an unexpected turn was revealed and it is that moment that I would like to talk about. Often enough us humans live life on earth as if we have full control our time on earth. We don’t take enough risks and we often just merely survive, often thinking “I will do it another day”, yet that day may never come (dare I say it). That part of the movie hit hard because it made me think of life in general and how uncertain it can be. It is often unnerving to think just uncertain our lives are and yet we do not take full advantage of the world while we are still in it. It is almost like we are too scared to go out there and explore this breath-taking planet because we think “it is too risky, what if something happens to me”. It’s ironic isn’t it, that the fear of death can actually stop us from living life to the fullest – what a catch 22 that is.

And so I would like to expand on that point a little bit more. I have always taken time out to think deeply about such wonders and have lived life according to a certain philosophy. Many may not fully agree with me on this but these are just a few points that I think us humans should take into consideration:

1. Live life to the fullest, and when I say to the fullest I mean if given the opportunity to travel the world, take it – even if it is just for holiday. Go to the places that you never thought you’d ever go to. It’s through exposure beyond my country’s borders that I learned to see the world as if I were still a young innocent toddler – exposure constantly renews my faith in humanity and re-enforces my optimistic view of the world.
2. Take time out to appreciate your surroundings and the people around you – they always have something to offer.
3. Family is EVERYTHING in the world. Always put them first before careers and everything else.
4. Some people are meant to be in your life for a season and some for a lifetime. Each person serves a purpose in your life, to teach you something that you would have never known had you not met them. Do not confuse the two though – do not allow a seasonal person to become a lifetime person. It often has catastrophic results and it is a waste of your precious time.
5. Forgive anyone who has ever hurt you for if you do not forgive them you are only doing an injustice to yourself. Forgiveness is often viewed as weakness, but it is truly the greatest of strengths.
6. Love one another. Treat one another the way you would want to be treated. Apologize if you have done wrong. 

Many of you may take the time to think about what I wrote above and many may not, but I will say this to you and perhaps it will trigger something - Our time on earth is not ours…..Our time is not ours…..but God’s. I’ll leave you with that ladies and gentlemen.