Eight Words

A few years ago I asked a mentor—a thoughtful and energetic octogenarian—the big question from last Sunday’s sermon: “So, you’ve had a while to figure this out…what do you truly want?”

I will never forget his answer. He shared that he’d spent nearly a decade thinking about that very question, pondering what he’d say to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren if he had only one remaining breath. Ten years of meditation that came down to only eight words, one for every decade of his life.

Eight words that wonderfully illuminate a story told in this week’s Gospel.

Eight words you’ll have to wait for.