If the world were to end Tuesday.

If the world were to end four days from now,

most people would never see it coming.

They would keep living the chase.

Chasing money.

Chasing meaning.

Chasing lust and love and belonging.

When the world stopped turning, they would keep running,

searching door to door for someone to tell them they were beautiful.

That they were unique.

That they were more than just the result of evolution and survival of the fittest.

That their life had purpose for a reason greater than their genetics or their talents or their possessions.

As if the opinions of strangers was worth that of a lover who's eyes lit up when he looked at her.

Their treadmills would slow to a stop as they hurried to escape the time disappearing into black in front of their eyes.

But a world wide flood can't drown out the disappointment ringing in their ears.

Disappointment like the childish whimper of a 3rd grader who reached and missed the last monkey bar.

Was it worth it to start?

Sitting on the ground with that heart in your throat feeling of confidence switching to feel mid-fall, when your hand falls short and your body collapses to the ground.

I know disappointment like that.

I know the phone calls that start with heartache and end as a bad dream you'll never wake up from.

I know fear that can't be laughed off,

the fear that will follow them

as they run and they run and the world stops turning and they have nothing left to chase.

So they sit in the wood chips and staring up at the playground and they sip their mixed drink of restlessness and defeat.

Afraid to try again but more afraid to give up.

Afraid to stop running because they can't be happy here.

Always wanting more.

Always having less.

Always fighting no one.

Always restless.

So what's the answer?

If the world were to end Tuesday,

and these four days were all I had left,

I would walk with you.

I would hold your hand tighter and kiss you harder.

I would slow down with the turning of the world and wouldn't need goodbyes.

Because those I loved would know how precious they are.