For someone who doesn’t watch much day time TV (even as a stay at home mum – take that, stereotypers!), I certainly seem to have picked up on the idea that insurance – and therefore peace of mind – for almost anything and everything is starting to look like a really good idea.
There’s an insurance for everything and everyone
Insure your income. Insure your home. Your car. Your belongings. Your health. Insure your life (or death, depending how you look at it). Even start saving for your funeral!
The idea of having all bases covered is appealing. I think it gives a sense of control that, even in the catastrophic events that life can throw at us, we can create an outcome where we’ll be ok. It’s quite comforting.
And yet, despite these peace-of-mind products on offer, somehow we still struggle to actually have peace of mind.
I think this is our basic sense of mortality at play.
Let me explain.
Insurance can’t change our mortality
There’s this movie called “In Time” which has a really curious angle on the concept of time and mortality. In this dystopian film, once people hit age 25, a visible clock on their arm starts counting down. From age 25, they have just one year to live. Yet, time can be added or subtracted. It is the currency of the film’s world.
It’s not that we aren’t aware that there’s a clock ticking. But I often think about this movie, and how confronting it was for the characters to have this constant reminder that their lives are scarily finite.
Fifteen months ago, a family member was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Once we heard of the diagnosis, I was shaken by the fact that, for this person, suddenly God had yanked the curtain back on their clock only to reveal far, far, less time than anyone had ever anticipated.
We are not in control – even with all the insurance products
It was a strong reminder that we are never in control. And peace of mind certainly doesn’t come from having every possible insurance under your belt (and draining your bank account).
It reminded me that any control we think we might have, or successes we try and claim, is an illusion. There but for the grace of God go I.
Make the most of your time by giving it away
There was a beautiful song written by Christian songwriter Stuart Townend, for his brother, that spoke to me over this time. It is called “Keep you here”.
The chorus reads;
“For time is given,
And time is taken away;
The least that we can do
Is make the most of every day.
And we are given
And we are taken away;
The best that we can do
Is give ourselves away.”
I love how this sums up the truth of life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.
Jesus’ timeless words ring true
And the question that Jesus challenged his disciples and listeners with, 2000 years ago, and still today:
“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”
What good is it for someone to have all the possible insurance products possible to ensure peace-of-mind over this earthly life – yet to never look into true peace of mind over their spiritual life?
For those who have peace of mind over their spiritual salvation, in Jesus, there is true peace. They might still have those insurance products (yes, I insure my car and contents), but they know that that is not where true peace of mind is found.
Sarah Urmston is a follower of Jesus whose current season of life sees her fully occupied by raising two gorgeous young children with her husband Stephen. In moments when time allows for pursuits of the heart, Sarah loves to keep in touch with friends (especially thanks to Facebook), sing and play piano, and enjoy a good cup of tea.
Sarah Urmston previous articles may be viewed http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/sarah-urmston.html
