When Death knocks, surprise him.

When morning comes, think to yourself that night will never come. When night falls, dare not to promise yourself another dawn.

My point is—and I do have a point—hold yourself in readiness, as the Gospel of Luke urges (21:36), and don't miss a beat. Why? We all know people who've died before they said a prayer or changed their life.

When Death knocks, surprise him. Invite him in and ask what took him so long—the tea's been getting cold. ...

Now's the time for you to do something about it. Do provide for yourself, and do set aside a bit of good for the future.

Worry about yourself, yes, and do it now. Why? Who'll worry about you in the future?

The present moment is precious, as the apostle Paul said in his Second Letter to the Corinthians. Now is "the day of salvation; now is the perfect time" (6:2).

Oh, what an outrage it is! You live your life without a plan. You fill your day with indifferent acts. Don't you realize what's at stake? It's your eternal life!

The Imitation of Christ, Thomas a Kempis,
transl. William Griffin