In its August 26, 2008 issue, the Christian Century reviewed Forrest Church’s book Love and Death: My Journey Through the Valley of the Shadow. It’s a brief review and the reviewer is anonymous, but we come away wanting to read the book, all the more because Church wrote it in the last months of his life after having been diagnosed with terminal esophageal cancer. One quote from the book – characterized as Church’s mantra – stood out for me: “Do what you can, want what you have, and be who you are.” That quote is going on our refrigerator, along with this one, from an Amazon review:
Life is filled with danger. That’s just the way it is. Finally, the Titanic always hits the iceberg. Hence this simple, if imprudent bit of advice: Before it does, pick up the phone. Pick up the gauntlet. Do whatever it takes. Take a few chances. Dare to live before you die.