Who'll be next???
This is a sad thread. We laugh a lot here at AZB, playfully woof and cut up our buddies, exchange ideas, give opinions....and now, our hearts are a little more heavy after reading Fred's post.
A couple of thoughts....
1. People sometimes talk down about pool / pool players. Well, if it wasn't for the pool players in Bugs' lfe, like Freddy and his other pals, how much earthly comfort would Bugs have had in his seemingly last days here? That his friends rallied and showed some support with the raffle project (thanks again to Steve Booth / Onepocket.org and all those who were able to help), I think Bugs' heart was touched deeply. How could it not have been? Imagine if someone did that for YOU, how would it make you feel?
2. So many of pooldom's great players have passed on recently. But, so many of our own family, friends and other people all around us are dying off just as fast. Who'll be next? We don't know. So, we ought to try our best to live in such a way that when it's OUR time to die, we can leave a legacy that people will really remember. I would love to be remembered as a loving, kind hearted man who loved God, his family and friends. (Who wouldn't want to be remembered like that?) But, if you died right now, at this very moment, how would it be for you? Are we spending the right time with our family? Are we a good example to our children and mates?
Do we have the kind of attitude that makes people want to be around us more, or do we repel people? We all have choices to make every day on how we'll live. Let's make the right moves here.
3. Many of us have a belief system about an after-life. I'm a Christian who believes that all of us have sinned and are in need of Salvation and being forgiven. The Bible says that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." It also says in 1 John 5:11-12 that "eternal life is in His Son (Jesus), and he who has the Son (Jesus) has life, and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." I learned a long time ago that this life we have in this world is just a flash. Before we know it, somebody will be mourning over us. And then what?
The point I'm trying to make is that stuff like this should be a wakeup call for all of us. Because a famous and beloved pool player is seemingly on his last days, that should also remind us that soon, that will be you and me. Whatever you believe about an after life, or God, I think this is a nice time to take a personal inventory on our own life as well. How is it with YOUR soul? Me, I'm going to trust that God is truthful and IS willing to forgive us, if we only trust in Him and in His great love for us.
4. If you believe in prayer, how about we ask the Lord for His blessing and favor on Leonard Rucker, on his family and his friends who love and care for him.
