A few weeks ago, disaster struck some parts of the FCT. The streets of Karu were filled with chaos, grief, and loss from a devastating explosion that shook the community, consuming homes and businesses and cutting short the lives of innocent people who had woken up that morning with no idea it would be their last.
Some had left home with smiles, others with worries, but all had left with the expectation of returning. They had plans—appointments to keep, meals to eat, families to reunite with. Some left their homes with unresolved conflicts, words left unsaid, and emotions bottled up, thinking they would have time to sort things out later.
But later never came.
So, what if you don’t come back home today?
The Illusion of Time
We live our lives as though we are guaranteed tomorrow. We wake up, get dressed, go about our routines, and assume that we will return to our beds at night. We argue and say hurtful words, believing we will have the chance to apologize later. We ignore messages from loved ones, thinking we can respond another day. We push dreams aside, waiting for the “perfect” time.
But life does not promise us more time.
Those who perished in the explosion did not wake up knowing it would be their last morning. They had plans, hopes, and dreams. They had people they loved and people who loved them. Yet, in an instant, everything changed.
The truth is, we are no better than those who lost their lives yesterday. We are just as fragile, just as human, just as vulnerable to the unpredictability of life. The only difference between us and them is that we are still here. And because we are still here, we must ask ourselves: What are we doing with the time we have left?
The Burdens We Carry
Think about the emotions you carried when you left home today.
Did you leave in anger, slamming the door behind you?
Did you walk away from someone who needed your forgiveness?
Did you carry envy, jealousy, greed, or pride in your heart, thinking you had it all under control?
Did you assume you would return and have the chance to fix things later?
What if there is no later?
Life is too short to hold onto bitterness. It is too fleeting to waste on grudges. Every moment we spend angry, resentful, or envious is a moment we can never get back. And if today turns out to be our last, how would we want to be remembered? Would we want our last words to be words of anger? Would we want our last actions to be filled with selfishness?
A Wake-Up Call
Tragedies like the Karu explosion serve as painful reminders of life’s uncertainty. But they should also wake us up to what truly matters.
We often wait for tragedy to remind us to love deeply. We wait until we lose someone to appreciate them. We wait until we hear bad news to check on our friends. But why? Why do we wait for sorrow to teach us what we should have known all along?
What if, instead of waiting for loss, we choose love now?
What if, instead of waiting for regret, we choose forgiveness now?
What if, instead of waiting for tragedy, we choose to live fully now?
If today were your last, would you be proud of how you lived? Would you be at peace with the way you treated people? Would you leave behind a legacy of love and kindness?
Choosing Peace and Gratitude
Yes, life is difficult. Maybe you are struggling financially. Maybe you are tired, sick, or feeling lost. Maybe you are carrying burdens no one else can see. But the fact that you are still here means there is still hope. It means you still have a chance to love, to heal, to find joy.
Let us not wait until it is too late to:
• Make peace with those we have wronged.
• Forgive those who have hurt us.
• Tell our loved ones how much they mean to us.
• Cherish every moment, no matter how small.
Because one day, we will not have the chance to do these things. And none of us knows when that day will come.
Give Flowers While They Can Be Received
I pray we see the emptiness of material possessions and learn to detach from things that do not truly matter. I pray we learn to appreciate people while they are still alive, not just when they are gone. I pray we learn to express love now, not through eulogies at funerals.
Too often, we save our kind words for tombstones. We wait until it is too late to tell people how much we love them. We gather to mourn those we never celebrated in life. But love should not be something we reserve for death—it should be something we practice every single day.
So tell your family you love them. Hug your friends tightly. Reach out to those you have lost touch with. Give people their flowers while they are alive to hold them.
Tomorrow Is Not Promised
If today were your last day, what would you do differently?
Would you still hold onto resentment?
Would you still postpone joy?
Would you still leave love unspoken?
Or would you choose to live fully, love deeply, and forgive freely?
I hope we all realize that tomorrow is not promised. The people we cherish today may not be here tomorrow. And neither may we. Let’s not waste another moment on things that do not bring peace, joy, and love.
Because one day, we will leave home for the last time. And on that day, may we have no regrets.
(Culled from the Internet)
