The death of a loved one, a severe illness, a financial setback, or extreme adversity can cause us to stand back, look at our lives, and ask ourselves some hard questions: "What's really important? Why am I doing what I'm doing?"..."Assume you only have this one semester to live," I tell my students, "and that during this semester you are to stay in school as a good student. Visualize how you would spend your semester." (4:3)

Things are suddenly placed in a different perspective. Values quickly surface that before weren't even recognized (4:4)

I have also asked students to live with that expanded perspective for a week and keep a diary of their experiences (4:5)

The results are very revealing. They start writing to parents to tell them how much they love and appreciate them. They reconcile with a brother, a sister, or a friend where the relationship has deteriorated (4:6)

The dominant, central theme of their activities, the underlying principle, is love. The futility of badmouthing, bad thinking, put-downs, and accusation becomes very evident when they think in terms of having only a short time to live. Principles and values become more evident to everybody.. (4:7)

When people seriously undertake to identify what really matters most to them in their lives, what they really want to be and to do, they become very reverent. They start to think in larger terms than today and tomorrow. (18 ) (4:8)

Here is a prayer from the Baha'i sacred Writings for the departed: (4:9)

He is God, exalted is He, the Lord of loving-kindness and bounty!.. (4:10)

O my God! Thou seest me detached from all save Thee, holding fast unto Thee and turning unto the ocean of Thy bounty, to the heaven of Thy favor, to the Daystar of Thy grace.. (4:11)

O my Lord! I myself and all created things bear witness unto Thy might, and I pray Thee not to turn away from Thyself this spirit that hath ascended unto Thee, unto Thy heavenly place, Thine exalted Paradise and Thy retreats of nearness, O Thou who art the Lord of all men! (4:12)

Grant, then, O my God, that Thy servant may consort with Thy chosen ones, Thy saints and Thy Messengers in heavenly places that the pen cannot tell nor the tongue recount (4:13)

O My Lord, the poor one hath verily hastened unto the Kingdom of Thy wealth, the stranger unto his home within Thy precincts, he that is sore athirst to the heavenly river of Thy bounty. Deprive him not, O Lord, from his share of the banquet of Thy grace and from the favor of Thy bounty. Thou art in truth the Almighty, the Gracious, the All- Bountiful (4:14)

O my God, Thy Trust hath been returned unto Thee. It behooveth Thy grace and Thy bounty that have compassed Thy dominions on earth and in heaven, to vouchsafe unto Thy newly welcomed one Thy gifts and Thy bestowals, and the fruits of the tree of Thy grace! Powerful art Thou to do as Thou willest, there is none other God but Thee, the Gracious, the Most Bountiful, the Compassionate, the Bestower, the Pardoner, the Precious, the All- Knowing (4:15)

I testify, O my Lord, that Thou hast enjoined upon men to honor their guest, and he that hath ascended unto Thee hath verily reached Thee and attained Thy Presence. Deal with him then according to Thy grace and bounty! By Thy glory, I know of a certainty that Thou wilt not withhold Thyself from that which Thou hast commanded Thy servants, nor wilt Thou deprive him that hath clung to the cord of Thy bounty and hath ascended to the Dayspring of Thy wealth. There is none other God but Thee, the One, the Single, the Powerful, the Omniscient, the Bountiful. (19 Baha'u'llah- ) (4:16)

A Mission Statement:

>Many authors encourage their readers to write "a mission statement." The purpose of this project is to keep us focused and on track. The statement should be typed or printed attractively and be read every day. The reason for going through all this trouble is this: The world carries us forward like a mighty river with full force. It is so demanding, it takes every bit of energy we can muster just to stay afloat, just to cope with daily demands. The mission statement is like a tiny island in the midst of this fast-flowing river on which we can land for just a few moments every day to remind ourselves of the vast ocean at the end of the river (4:17)

"Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes once boarded a train in Washington, then promptly lost his ticket. The conductor recognized him and said, 'Never mind, Mr. Justice. When you find your ticket, I am certain you will mail it in.' 'Mr. Conductor,' replied Holmes, 'the question is not where is my ticket, but where am I supposed to be going?'" (4:18)

According to author Stephen Covey, a mission statement accomplishes these purposes: (4:19)

It presents you with a circle of significance, a clear lens through which you can see the world (4:20)

It serves as a personal constitution, as a standard by which you measure everything else in your life, as an expression of your vision and values (4:21)

It gives you a sense of clarity, commitment, and freedom (4:22)

It "forces you to think through your priorities deeply, carefully, and to align your behavior with your beliefs. Other people begin to sense that you're not being driven by everything that happens to you. You have a sense of mission about what you're trying to do and you are excited about it." (20) (4:23)

It is never too late to learn and to start a new life.

Student: "I want to become a doctor."
Counselor: "Why don't you?"
Student: "It takes seven years. I will be an old man."
Counselor: "How old will you be in seven years if you don't go to school?" (4:24)

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