What would you do if you only had a short time to live?

In the 2007 film The Bucket List, two terminally ill men—played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman—take a road trip to do the things they always said they would do before they "kicked the bucket."

It has an interesting theme. What would you do if you only had so much time to live? Skydive? Travel the world? Drive a race car? Eat at the best restaurants in Europe? Spend time with family? Pray? Do something for God?

In anticipation of the film's release, Nicholson was interviewed for an article in Parade magazine.

While reflecting on his personal life, Nicholson said:

"I used to live so freely. The mantra for my generation was "Be your own man!" I always said, "Hey, you can have whatever rules you want—I'm going to have mine. I'll accept the guilt. I'll pay the check. I'll do the time." I chose my own way. That was my philosophical position well into my 50s. As I've gotten older, I've had to adjust."

But reality has a way of getting the attention of even a Jack Nicholson. Later in the interview, Nicholson adds:

"We all want to go on forever, don't we? We fear the unknown. Everybody goes to that wall, yet nobody knows what's on the other side. That's why we fear death."

As a Christian, I don't fear death. I don't long for it - but I don't fear it. I have faith and hope that what happens after I die will be an eternity in the presence of God.

I believe it's important to meditate on this from time to time, for the way we think about life after death influences what we believe about life before death.