On Monday, May 20th a terrible tragedy occurred in this country. Unless you have been living under a rock, you no doubt have heard all about the massive tornado that clobbered the city of Moore, Oklahoma. The tragedy did not end with 24 people dying, hundreds of people being injured or the physical devastation to the city of Moore and the surrounding area.
A week later, after the tragedy ceases to be the top news story and is no longer trending on social media an even greater tragedy continues to occur right before our eyes. The continual tragedy is not symbolized by the physical debris and rubble that pollutes the city of Moore.
In this particular instance, the continual tragedy is the psychological and emotional wreckage which cannot be quantified and calculated by FEMA and the insurance industry. This is a destruction of human spirit that cannot simply be rebuilt or reconstructed with federal aid or insurance reimbursements. This unquantifiable loss of family and community is so much more than the physical damage caused to bricks and mortar, steel and wood.
For the survivors of “Oklahoma Tornado 2013”, the storm has passed but the mental and emotional anguish caused by the actual storm shall wreak spiritual havoc and emotionally ravage those directly connected with the tragedy for the rest of their lives.
Repeat What We Fail to Learn
A week ago, before the media left Moore, Oklahoma to find its next big story, they made every effort to tug at our heartstrings sharing personal stories of people affected by the tornado. From children who died to people who lost pets, no stone was left unturned to make sure the story of the “Oklahoma Tornado 2013” was told from all human interest perspectives. And for a few brief moments perhaps even a day or so, Americans paused to reflect on what was really important – living life in the present moment.
Yes, unbelievably Americans for a short time, temporarily reflected on their true purpose and pondered the meaning of life. We stopped to consider what life would be like if we were in the shoes of the victims of Moore, Oklahoma.
How would we deal with the tragedy if we were stuck right in the eye of the storm? How would we adjust to life knowing that the son or daughter we sent off to school one morning – without telling them how much we loved them and giving them a big hug – was never coming back home? How would our children adjust to life knowing that the last living memory of their parent was one where we were yelling at them about not completing a household chore? How would we adjust knowing that we had done an unkind deed or had an unpleasant exchange with anyone that we loved or cared for who we would never see again?
Experience is the Best Teacher
Unfortunately, these simple questions will appear to the “Oklahoma Tornado 2013” survivors as horrific matters requiring lifelong reflection and contemplation. However, for those of us who awoke this morning to a life and family that was still intact, to relationships unaffected permanently by real tornadoes or other natural disasters, we have been celestially presented with yet another undeserved but great opportunity to do the only thing that really matters – live life in the moment as if tomorrow is not promised.
There is an idiom which you might be familiar “experience is the best teacher”. The idiom implies that the best way to learn something is to have personal involvement, first-hand knowledge. Fortunately, the expression doesn’t infer that experience cannot be gained through the experiences of others. As such, if the idiom “experience is the best teacher” is true as I believe it is, we should be able to learn one very important lesson from the tragedy in Moore, Oklahoma. Our own life is fleeting and we must live it as if tomorrow was not promised.
Tomorrow is Not Promised
Tomorrow is not promised. Say those words out loud. There may be no truer words that can be spoken. Thus, today and every day that you remain among the living start your day not lamenting your current social status, your economic woes or the lack of material possessions. Instead, start your day by imagining that you hear in the distant a tornado siren which should remind you that life is fleeting and must be lived as if tomorrow is not promised.
Do your children know how much you love them? Do your parents know how grateful you are to have them? Are you sufficiently pleased with the status of your relationships with family, friends or other loved ones? Are you living your life personally and professionally with purpose, passion, urgency, authenticity and the attention to detail one has when they realize that life is fleeting and tomorrow is not promised?
If you can’t answer these question unequivocally in the affirmative, you must not yet hear the siren. Trust me the siren is closer to being broadcasted than you think. Take corrective action now.
Life is Fleeting
The passing of life just like the tornado which struck Moore, Oklahoma can sneak up on you and those important to you with little to no notice. If you are the smart life pupil that I believe you are, you will allow the tragedy of “Oklahoma Tornado 2013” to be your best teacher so that others will learn from your triumphant personal and professional experiences how to live life in the moment.
Life is fleeting! Tomorrow is not promised!