As I was preparing my talk for Sunday I listened once again to Steve Jobs commencement address to the Stanford graduating class of 2005. In the talk he was sharing the blessing of facing his own mortality. He had contracted cancer a year earlier and the prognosis at the time was bleak. He said "Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

This week as we conclude our series on the untethered soul we will exploring the idea of the possibility of death as powerful teacher and motivator. In the face of death, which we all will face, we can see an opportunity for life. I loved the quote from the book "you don't change your life you change how you live your life." As I reflect on the idea of death as my friend to welcome I am comforted by our teaching that life is eternal and death is only a transition. Knowing I am going to die provides me the motivation to choose to be joyful in this moment because I can never predict what the next moment will bring.

Please plan to join us as Rev Ray shares the message, Lisa Wilbanks leads the meditation and Dana Bryant-Wilson prides the special music. Don't forget to turn the clocks back an hour.

  Rev. Ray Nelson
Senior Minister