Second Chances

A friend of mine recently underwent quadruple by-pass surgery and thankfully, is growing stonger every day. He was unaware of he seriousness of his heart condition until an EKG and catheterization revealed that he had already had a heart attack and blockages were in the range of 80 to 90 percent. The surgery took place almost immediately and left little time for preparation mentally for the stark realities of life and death. He went to confession, not knowing if it were to be his last. Now recovering, he is very conscious of the gift of life, his second chance, and the blessings of family, friends, and all the daily little sights and sounds that we take for granted. He expressed his gratitude for our friendship, my calls, and prayers. I was moved to hear how much all that now meant to him.
How many second chances have we received: the close call while driving, when a few seconds meant the difference between an accident or the completion of our drive; the soldier whose buddies in front of and behind him were fatally hit with shrapnel; coming into a room at night where the candle lit in the morning was still burning, or had left melted wax on the table before going out without starting a fire? Second chances...our days are full of them. They are calls for alertness and awareness: God is watching, and indeed has sent his angels to keep watch over us (cf. Ps 91: 11-12). A meditation on the entire Psalm 91 would be helpful today.
Bro. Rene