“Kal ho naa ho” means, roughly, “Tomorrow may not come.” It reminds me of a Nickelback song. In the video for Nickelback’s video “Saved”, a man undertakes a big task: saving those who are about to lose their lives. Above the heads of every person in the video is a clock of sorts, counting down how many hours and minutes are left until that person will die. He saves a few people from various accidents, as he notices that the numbers of the ‘clock’ have dwindled down to seconds.
Two nights ago, there was a car accident in the village. A woman walking by the side of the road was killed, struck by the vehicle that then rolled over, having lost control from a blown tire. My heart aches for those in the vehicle (they all got out alive, with only a few minor bumps, scrapes and aches). Those who saw the car afterwards were all in wonder that anyone made it out of the car alive. But the driver and passengers all saw something that is terrible and ingrains itself into your memory: the face of a woman in her last seconds of life. In Romania, vehicular manslaughter (even accidental), carries a big sentence. The driver is looking at probably at least 7 years in prison.
And as much as we are praying for that man, for leniency in the judicial system and grace, I am more heartbroken for that woman’s family. My poet’s mind wonders what she was doing in those last seconds of her life. Was she making to-do lists for the next day? Thinking about how she had reacted badly when her children had misbehaved earlier? Was she thinking about how her husband had sweetly picked her favorite flower for her that morning?
Her family did not wake up two days ago thinking that that was the day they would lose a mother and a wife. She did not wake up that morning thinking that this was her last day to walk the earth. The man driving did not wake up thinking that after this day, he would be a man who had (even accidentally) taken another’s life.
The word “fair” keeps running through my mind. It isn’t FAIR, God! It isn’t fair that this woman, walking home, was hit by a car and killed! It isn’t fair that her family has to suffer so! It isn’t fair that a husband is going to bed alone tonight, in a bed that he has shared with someone for the past thirty years.
But we’re never promised fair in life, are we? In fact, we’re reminded to number our days. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12). And Jesus points out that by worrying, we cannot add a single day to our lives (Matthew 6:34).
That’s something I forget often. I make plans as if my will will trump God’s. As though I am promised many tomorrows and a future, I tell God, “Next time. Next time I see that person, I’ll tell them about Christ and Your love.” “Next time, God! Next time, I promise I’ll listen to Your voice.” “Tomorrow, God. I’ll do that tomorrow.” Even on the Race so far, I’ve found myself thinking ahead, about what I’ll be doing after this is through, after I’ve returned to the States. Living in the moment isn’t something that comes easily to me.
Today, I challenge you to live in the moment. Tell those you love that you love and cherish them, put the work down to play with your child, compliment a stranger, spread some love, tell that aching person about a God who cares.
Because you just never know.
Kal ho naa ho.
