Life, death and investments

Life and death surround us – it is part of what living is all about. However, for most of us the only times that we think of life is when a child is born or when we are invited to a baby shower. We are then reminded of the beauty and miracle that is life. This is also true of the inevitable truth that is death- we only come to the realization of its cruel hand when it snatches a friend or a loved one from our midst.

The reality of these was brought to my attention so forcefuly in the last couple of months. I was reminded of the joy, beauty and hope that new life brings by the birth of my niece “Maya Wambui” in April. She was aptly named after two great women – Maya Angelou a living legend, a woman of great wisdom known and respected the all over the world and Wambui – after my mother another great woman of great wisdom who on the contrary is not known by anyone else but the few in her neighbourhood that she interacts with daily and her children. However, she has had positive impact on those few that have been blessed to know her. A humble woman who has lived her life for her children and others sacrificing and loving like only a great mother can. So my niece, having been named after these two great women, I feel a sense of hope anticipation for all that this little girl will grow to become and achieve.

The going home of one of my best friends made me have to think of that dirty cruel word – death! My Friend Elaine Njeri Kabogo went to be with Jesus on March 25th– a loyal, loving friend, a Woman of faith, a faithful soldier in the army of God. She has left a legacy of faith and faithfulness (see the great testimonials/tributes on her memorial website - But however morbid the thought of death is and the fact that many of us do not like even to think of it, we have to come to terms with it – we have to think of what next, where next? My friend Elaine is in Heaven- will you go there too when you die? How can you be sure? So even as you think of the stocks and the markets and trying to live the American dream or African or whatever dream you chasing or living ….. how much more should we invest in our eternity. We will be spending the rest of our lives there you know! Jesus told us to lay our treasures in heaven where rust and moth cannot corrupt – this to me is the best financial advice as far as eternity is concerned. Jesus also asked what it would profit a man if he gained the whole world and lost his soul! It just makes the greatest financial, spiritual and eternal sense to invest in the most important gift that we have - the gift of life - for eternal returns!!