To the Editor:

In March of 2013, myself, wife and son miraculously survived seven times the lethal limit of carbon monoxide poisoning in our home. This near fatal experience has motivated me to script this letter, in hopes of letting people be aware that life can be gone in less than a “heartbeat.”

After all, we hope someday if we love and serve God we will be with Him in heaven. Our life is so brief compared to eternity. There is an old saying, “here today, gone tomorrow.” My family can certainly relate to that. Ultimately, all that remains is how we choose to live – for God or against God!

We are responsible for all our time, all our actions and how we lived in service to God. It seems simple, but we know how difficult it can be. Why do we get caught up in this life here? Worrying, anxiety and stressing out over secular matters of money, power, prestige and pride are useless and a waste of time. Praying and seeking God’s protection and assistance in this brief life will bring you what you want and need – peace, love and joy.

Being “politically correct” on this planet means nothing. It is so passing. This life is a batting of an eye, the dropping of a pin, and then our life is over and eternity awaits. So why get trapped in the importance of meaningless things each and every day? What is truly important and what is not?

We must listen to our inner voice. We must keep our focus and priorities on God. What we do now and how we act are so small when compared to the life to come. Are just a “few” years of life holding on to such insignificant “stuff” worth all eternity? Love God; love one another. We must put Him first, and then everything else falls into line! It seems so simple, but so hard to live for so many.

St. Luke 21:33 said it best – “Sky and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Richard Walsh

East Greenwich