A month ago, I lost my father to a terrible car accident. As far as I know, he had a massive heart attack at the wheel, before colliding into a dump truck. Since this has happenned, I have taken alot of time to evaluate the world as well as what I believe.
After an event such as mine happens, one begins to see life in new ways. Personally, I have begun to appreciate what I have more than ever. I am thankful that every new day is a new opportunity to do well in the world and to live life. You never know when that opportunity ends. Also, I've begun to understand that life is about serving the lord by serving others. We all should be people that make a postive impact on other lives, even if its doing something as small as opening the door for a stranger or saying hello. These acts of kindness are important, because tomorrow, you may gone.
Life is hard. My life over the last month has been killer. I have felt so much grief and mourning over the loss of my father. I only have a few memories of him (as I am still a young man), and I know that I will not be able to create any more. But I do know that he is with the Lord, and that he is watching me and my mother. And that is comforting to me. We must take this life and make the best of every situation, and know that God always has our back, no matter what you may believe.
I personally believe in the tennants of Judiasm and I follow the torah (first 5 books of the old testament). I believe that God is a just and loving God, but he is also a practical God. I believe that he wants us to constantly stride to better our selves and to better the society we live in. I believe that he gives us hardships to test our faith and to show us how much we need to appreciate what he has given us. I believe that regardless of what denomination you are, if you are a Orthodox Jew, devout Christian, or even a Muslin, if you believe in the God of Abraham and you strive to praise him by prayer and by action, that you will have a place in the kingdom to come.
So, in closing... I urge you all to love the Lord, to make the world a better place, and to cherish what and who you have on this Earth.
Thank you,
Patrick E. Gump
