Thoughts about Uncle

‘I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness.’
John 10:10

What is fullness of life, and how can we live a full life in today’s world? Is it just a question of our own lives as individuals, or is it also about our relationships, community and society?

My desire for fullness of life and longevity is inherent within all of me just as it is with my parents and each of you – the readers. A wise man once said, “God did not create mankind to die, but to live.” Fullness of life is what I desire most but I am also sure that which everyone also desires. At church the preach that God Himself desires that and for every person for Jesus said, "I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). The question is not do we want it, the question is how do we achieve it? I think I know how I can achieve it but I am so full of self doubt.

To enjoy fullness of life in the my present life, there are number of things I must do:

1) Good genes

2) A goal or purpose for living

3) An optimistic outlook on life

4) Ability to handle stress well, and

5) Good diet and health care. Apart from the first one, which no one can control, though exercising the other four can be a contributing factor to the succeeding generations in their genes, the ability to have fullness of life and longevity is achievable by adhering to these factors.

What brought this topic up? Well over the weekend I received word that Uncle died. Who do you ask is Uncle? His full name is Paul ________, he lived to be 91, of Oakland, he passed away on June 8. Uncle was my father’s mother – brother which made him my fathers uncle and my great uncle. I do not know much about him nor did I spend much time talking to him growing up as Uncle and my father did not get along. Just very briefly when he was 15 he dropped out of school and started working to support himself – at the age of 18 he landed a job with The Yellow Cab company and it was there he spent his entire adult life. My grandmother - on my father’s side came to live with him at this time when my grandfather a abandoned his family for Sin City. So it was Paul, or better known as Uncle whom adopted my father and his two brothers as his family. He provided for them and kept a roof over their heads. Today he was laid to rest at the same cemetery as my Grandmother was laid to rest in 2003. I wish I would of gotten to know him better but well I do not know what else to say.