In some regards this blog entry serves to give a brief book review for Michael Morris’s book, Live Like You Were Dying, a literary work based off the popular song by Tim McGraw. I found the plot of the book to be somewhat steadfast in its natural course especially in some places where it stuck to the course of the song. For example, the main character, Nathan, does go skydiving and rides a bull named FuManchu which honestly could certainly be one of my favorite scenes in the book. I do not necessarily dislike unpredictable plot lines but in the same breath I would admit that extreme surprises are not my favorite picks. I like happy endings. I like comfortable and perhaps even realistic outcomes. As a southern work of fiction, this text fulfills those expectations and those preferences in my own literary and film critiques. For example, to further illustrate my point, I was not real crazy about the Sixth Sense when Bruce Willis suddenly appeared dead at the end of the movie and was playing a dead character all along. I thought the idea and creativity of such an ending was very cool and do not mind that type of story every now and then. It throws a wrench into my typical mechanical train of thought. I enjoy a good Hallmark movie or even better a good romantic comedy like Love Actually or The Holiday, something that makes me have a good laugh with a great story line and a favorable ending. That thus fulfills not only audience expectations but in some regards my own preferences.
This book is a story about what truly matters in life: family, moments, nature, small towns, friendship, love, hope, and how to live like you are dying. The storyline might be surefire or determinable in what occurs, but like I mentioned, I very much like that aspect of the book. What matters from a communicative standpoint is the deeper message here. What is life really all about? What matters most? What are you willing to die for? And if you knew you were dying, what would you do? How would you feel? What would be your first priorities?
When talking to my mom about this type of book, she becomes eager to read any work by any southern writer especially if I happen to meet them. Meeting a writer almost further brings a book to life. Michael Morris’s pieces are very much southern-based, and with inspiration found in Tim McGraw’s song, the scenario of this book certainly follows a southern motif and standard for a small town setting in Choctaw, Georgia. I asked my mother, “What would be one of the last places you would like to visit before you die?” I did not mean that she was actually going to die but rather a life goal like somewhere she would like to go. She answered, “I would like my family to be around.” She took me literally as if she really was dying and talking to those along her imaginative dying bedside. I could not help but burst out laughing because I do not really think she was listening. It was probably one of those tangent moments where I keep talking. She says, “Ummmm….okay….that’s good….oh, Asia, that interesting. Dying….I would want family around.” She just kind of nods her head in agreement when I roll into one of my dream tangents. As a kind parent, she supports all that I do but sometimes still remembers the “gift of gab” her son clearly has, agreeing with all I say as if really listening to me go on and on and on.
So the question still stands: What do you want to do or see if you were dying? Just today when I ate dinner with my mother at Panera Bread, the turkey-three cheese panini tasted even sweeter as the cheese rolled down my chin from its melted hot sensations. Oh, my taste buds were feeling it! I did not worry about my calorie count. I bought one of those huge delicious chocolate chip cookies because if I died I was not worried about an extra belt loop. I would want to savor the last thing I ate. I would want to know that I spent my last meal with someone I loved, my mother. I slept late today after working late into the night which is how my biological clock usually works anyway. I am most productive from 9:00 pm-12:30 am. I also finished Morris’s book this afternoon. Outside of this blog entry, I did not do anymore writing. I did not feel guilty about taking the day to enjoy it like I needed to earn it. It was a true “live like you were dying” day because simple things carried much more significance, and a normal day was not treated as ordinary. It was treated as extraordinary!
Before I chased after my own dream of publishing a book, I spoke with a minister from Opelika, Alabama about taking some time to enjoy something I have always wanted to do, glorifying God and growing closer to Him in the process. I asked, “What do you think about that?” He said, “I think that’s a great idea. I know a friend who took a year off to do that.” Some would consider this time a vacation or not taking life seriously….a waste of time! What is funny to me is these people are usually the first ones who would do something like this if they could.
I prayed to God after finishing the book, “Where would you have me go if I was going to die soon?” The answer was Asia. I know this is a really random place to a random question, but going to Southeast Asia has been in the back of my mind for quite some time. I never thought God would give me that answer to go there for potential mission work. If I am able and God truly opens these doors, I will also visit Portland, Oregon to chase some authors in this pursuit of dreams to write a book. I do want to live my life just for the sake of a daily existence. I want my life to be a vibrant example of God’s fire in His own will to do amazing things in simple people.
I am not suggesting that you take such large leaps if you prefer a home environment more so than me. I am also in my upper twenties; so I am trying to live those passions out while I can. To live with a “like you are dying mentality,” sometimes all you need to do is notice the butterflies on those flowers you always jog, walk, or drive by. Notice the feel of sweet sunlight against your face this beautiful September day. Kiss the one you love like the first day you saw her. It was all you did to keep your cool because you liked her so much. Kiss her like you were dying. Kiss her like you had nothing to lose and like no one was looking even if everyone is looking.
If you are confused by all this jargon I am referring to, then perhaps to get refocused you need to read Morris’s book, Live Like You Were Dying, while you blast Tim McGraw’s song on your ITunes list with repeat mode looping through and through again. When you appreciate the moment you hear the song in the moment while you are reading the book, I would say you are on your way to seeing how things feel when you live like you are dying. Check out McGraw’s video below if you dig the lyrics to this chorus.
“and he said
I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchu
and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.”
Song written by Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman
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