This past year, I was privileged to attend three amazing country concerts. While I enjoyed the music at each one immensely, I walked away from them with a life lesson that goes even deeper than the best country lyrics.
In March of last year, we splurged on tickets to see George Strait play at the Houston Rodeo for my husband’s 40th birthday. We flew all the way to Texas where we met up with Micah’s cousin and his wife and went on rides in the rodeo midway before seeing George play live — a lifelong dream. Just a few months shy of his 70th birthday, George strode slowly onto the stage and played a long but subdued set of his greatest hits. I felt a bit bad for him when he had to leave the stage and come all the way back out for the encore because the long trek and the stairs up to the stage were not easy for his aging body. It wasn’t officially his farewell tour, but you could tell that he is nearing the end of his performing days. He spoke gratefully and reflectively to his fans, saying that he would never forget the cheers and applause over all the years. We left the concert feeling so thankful that we went. You never know when it’s the last chance to hear the legends of country music play.
We were so thrilled by our George Strait experience, that we decided to see another beloved country artist who is also nearing retirement. Our same group of four bought tickets to see Alan Jackson play in Arizona in September. As Alan took the stage, we were a bit surprised to see that he also looked very old in his movements and mannerisms. Curious, I did a quick Google search during the concert to find that he was only 63, younger than George and younger even than our parents. Alan put on an awesome show, but you could tell he was not very agile and looked like he might be in pain as he performed. A few days after the concert, a news article came out announcing that Alan was canceling the remaining shows on his Last Call Tour due to “health issues” related to his chronic neurological disorder, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. We ended up seeing his last performance of the year. The rest of his dates are supposed to be rescheduled at a later date.
Just two months later, in November, Micah and I went to see Zac Brown Band perform in Phoenix. This was another band we’d wanted to see for years. However, when Zac took the stage, he informed the audience that his show would be divided into three different sets with a brief intermission between each one. After the first set, a video popped up. On it, founding band member John Driskell Hopkins announced that he had recently been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is typically fatal within 5-10 years. I wondered if the breaks in the set were to allow his hands to rest, the first part of his body where he had noticed symptoms of numbness. At the end of the video, John closed with, “I hope to rock with you, my friends, for as many years as I am able.” While it was nice to see him smiling, it was a bit sobering to see this man on the stage, only about a decade older than me, facing imminent death. He will leave behind a wife and three young daughters.
I share these stories, not to put a damper on your new year’s celebrations and resolutions, but because we all need a reminder every now and then that life is fleeting. It’s truly just a vapor. The concerts I attended this year reminded me of that as I watched three great performers near the end of their days on earth. George and Alan are wrapping up long careers, but I’m sure they would say it’s gone by in the blink of an eye. And John Driskell Hopkins will see his career cut short. He’s only 51. Not long ago he probably dreamed of playing at age 70 like George Strait.
Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Whether we get 80 years or 60 or 40, our time on earth is limited, so how do we use it well? I’m not here to tell you to make lofty goals or strive toward greater accomplishments. I’m also not here to tell you to throw in the towel and feast in leisure because all is vanity. Instead, I am asking myself, “How do I use the time I’ve been given for God’s glory?” and I thought you might want to ponder the same question. For me, the answer might be setting some goals for my health or my budget in 2023. It might be letting the house stay messy one night while I play with my kids. Or it might mean turning on hymns while I do the dishes and making my nightly clean-up a time of intentional worship.
None of us knows how many days we have left, so let us head into this new year with the gratitude of a misty-eyed George Strait as he looks out at his 80,000 fans, the perseverance of Alan Jackson as he braces his failing body to play an entire set, and the hope of John Driskell Hopkins, as he uses every day he has left to bring music and joy to others.
Number your days, my friends, and then use them well and for God’s glory, down to the very last drop.
