The Bonus Day Anniversary

Growing up in a Christian community before our country began massive cultural changes was an advantage; I failed to see it in my youth. However, looking back, I recognize that it gave me a perspective beyond the physical world and into the spiritual. I learned to think about what might happen after I left this mortal shell. I developed early in life the belief in the reality of God and had the fortune to attend a Bible College at a time when students were encouraged to think and reason on their own instead of today's forced thought compliance. Consequently, I was exposed to a myriad of ideas in a variety of religions and cultures. The result is that I know what I believe and have chosen to place all my eggs in one basket.
Therefore, one year ago today, my spirit was prepared when I had my heart episode. As what started out as indigestion continued to evolve into heart surgery, I was fully prepared to never wake up from the procedure. I truly thought that my day had come and I was expecting with some anticipation to see what was waiting for me. Not only was I surprised to awake from the quadruple bypass surgery, but even more astonished by how well my old body has responded to the new plumbing. Modern medicine has been a gift to me.
My pastor reminds my congregation often that the mortality rate in this world is 100% and this anniversary date is a reminder to me that every day could be THE day. So, whether today is it or there are many more todays in my future, every new day following January 8, 2018 is a bonus day for me.