Well, It seems we're still alive.

That's what most of the people in Washington were saying twenty years ago tomorrow. Twenty years ago today, those in most religions were claiming the end time was here.

The sky was black. There was thunder and rumbling so loud many people thought every frieght train was barreling down upon them. The sky was so dark the thought occurred that perhaps the sun had exploded... forget global warming... how bout celestial death.

Twenty years ago today, Mount Saint Helens blew it's top. Ash was spewing into the air for weeks. Literally weeks. Eastern Washington was coated in large quantities. Western Washington experienced floods, radical temperature alterations, land slides, mudslides and mass hysteria.

I was 9. I was living about 250 or so miles North and West of the mountain. I didn't understand anything about what was going on. My parents were sure that this was the end of the world, that this would be the return of Christ. The church was sure that Christ would be ushering us to the Place of Safety.

There was much cacophony. Much speculation. Much hysteria.

Ya know what? I'm still here. Twenty years later. And it hasn't been a world fraught with peril. And ya know what else? It was a few weeks ago that we had this all-the-planets-in-alignment thing. There were so many people saying it was the end of the earth... the world was going to be plunged into the ether.

People were sure it was going to mark the return of Christ.

My thoughts...

Who's to say Christ hasn't returned already? Who's to say He isn't living here on earth already? I personally believe that He hasn't returned as yet, because the bible is very specific about the signs of His return, and the way He will return... and the "date".

However... There are many people who are waiting for the return of Christ.

Why wait?

Why not live, and breathe, and flourish in this world we have been given? Why not live as if Christ has already returned? Why not fill our hearts, minds and spirits with joy, peace and the desire to help and assist those around you, NOW?

Why wait, friends? There are many groups, religeous and otherwise, which promote preparing yourself for the future. There is nothing wrong with preparing yourself for the future, unless you're ignoring the present.

I have waited for years to attain the things I've wanted. Or rather, I have waited for them to be given to me. I have waited for the opportunities to make themselves known.

That's just plain wrong. Do not let life be something you let pass by. Cause ya never know when the hysteria isn't going to be simple hysteria. There will come a time when the end of the world, actually is the end of the world.

Death is not something I fear. Dying with regrets is what I fear.

What things do you want to attain, to accomplish, to become?

Think about that. Make yourself a list and then work toward accomplishing, becoming and attaining those things you want.

In twenty years, see how much you have done. See how much you have accomplished. See how far you've come.

In another twenty years, I will be married, I'll have children in their early teens. I'll be financially set for life, and for the lives of my children and grandchildren. I will be happy, more happy than I am now, even.

Don't let life pass you by, and don't let the traumatic events that happen around you dictate what you do. Make your own decisions. Live so you're free and happy. Live with no regrets.

And when you finally do die... have a huge party. Cause baby? You made it through this life. You made it with flying colors and no regrets. Enjoy everything you've accomplished.

Pass your legacy to your children. And know that those huge mile markers are there for you to see how far you have come, not how much farther you have to go.

Those pauses, "down times" so to speak, are there so you can see how much you have done, how far you've gone, how well you've done. Not where you haven't gone yet. Take courage from all you've accomplished, and then move on to the next step.

Life is what you make it. Make it big.