Most of us would rather not fly after hitting the “brick wall” of the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness. Reflecting on what was good and what was bad in one’s life changes everything. Satisfaction and regret; crisis and meaning. What was once hoped for, planned for, and envisioned for the future is now lost. How does one keep on living? To fly, to accept and make sense of a life interrupted. To fly, to enter fully into what awaits in life. To fly, to renew strength and find joy like there’s no tomorrow.
Fly, fly, fly while you still have wings. Fly with buoyancy. Do not falter in fervor or waver in eagerness. Lift off with the zestful spirit, enter fully into what remains of the fleeting, diminishing years of life. Do not wait to follow what the heart truly desires. Fly now. Take yourself out the door into fresh freedom. Celebrate what awaits. Spend yourself like there’s no tomorrow, because there may be no tomorrow. Open your heart to receive the latent possibilities of joy and loving, lasting memories. Fly, fly, fly while you still have wings. (Poem by Joyce Rupp)
He gives power to the faint, abundant strength to the weak. Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall. They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on eagle’s wings. They will run and not grow weary; walk, and not grow faint.
Isaiah 40:31