Some Things Matter and Some Things Don't

One of my favorite stories is about a man from Pennsylvania who took a road trip into New England. He entered Vermont on an interstate highway, but soon decided to leave it and drive west toward the mountains. As he drove through the countryside, he came to a fork in the road – with no signs. Not being sure which road to take, he drove back to the nearest house. An old man answered his knock at the door. Pointing down the road, he asked, “Does it matter which road I take to get to the Green Mountains?” The old Vermonter squinted down the road and replied, “Not to me it don’t.”

One of the more important lessons I learned in life is that some things matter and some things don’t. My natural tendency is to make everything matter. Somewhere along the line, I awakened to the fact that deciding what not to do was just as important as deciding what to do.

What standards should govern these decisions? How do I decide which things to let go, and which things to pursue? Ah, that’s the tough part. Here is where I sometimes fail.

The Pennsylvania Dutch have a saying: “We get too soon old and too late smart.” It’s true, you know. I think my life was at least half over before the light came on. My relationship with God matters. So does my relationship with people. Everything I choose to do should be measured against these two standards. They represent the most important things of all. How did Jesus summarize the Law?

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40, KJV)

Last fall, my younger brother informed us that he was very ill. Subsequent tests revealed that he is suffering from cancer. Rigorous rounds of chemotherapy were indicated. For Steve and his family, things that matter have become crystal clear.

Last month, my mother nearly died from congestive heart failure. The doctor installed a pacemaker, and she is doing rather well. However, she is 91 years old. We all know that her time on earth is nearing a close.

What do we say to these things? Some things matter and some things don’t. At this time in my family, our relationship with God is of supreme importance. Our relationship with each other is deeply prized. Other things matter, but not nearly so much as these.