Life is a gift that should be used to the fullest

Life is a precious gift from God.

It is a gift to be treasured, to be honored, and to be used.

I was reminded of this simple and yet profound fact when I had the privilege of watching the premier of “The Diary of Anne Frank,” broadcast on PBS’s Masterpiece Theater on April 11 in recognition of Holocaust Memorial Day. Some people are familiar with the endearing story of the Frank family, Jews, who live in an annex above a store in Amsterdam as they attempt to hide from the Nazis rounding up Jews in order to send them to the death camps.

Their struggle to stay alive is recorded by their youngest daughter Anne, who keeps a diary during their two-year confinement.

While forced to live with four others — in addition to her family — in this tiny hideaway, Anne writes honestly and beautifully about her discoveries and hardships as she comes of age during her early teen years.

The story ends tragically when the entire group is betrayed and discovered by the Nazis.

Anne and the others who share the annex perish in the concentration camps except for Anne’s father, Otto, who returns to Amsterdam after the war and is presented with her diary which had been left behind.

The move is a powerful testimony to the preciousness of life, and a reminder of how very fragile life is.

Anne had the hope and dream of becoming a writer. Her life was cut short, but she made the most of it during those two short years in hiding.

It made me think of my life and of the lives of the people around me and in my country.

It seems that most people today aren’t concerned with making the most out of the gift of life that they’ve been given.

Aren’t most Americans more concerned with things like early retirement, winning the lottery, and being entertained?

While we hear reports in the news of high unemployment rates and families struggling to make ends meet, shopping malls are filled with people looking to buy more stuff, and fun-seeking Americans flock to casinos.

Car commercials inundate us with the message that we need a new and more luxurious vehicle in order to be fulfilled.

And the biggest challenge our country faces right now is obesity.

We simply have too much, and we believe that happiness will come when we accumulate even more stuff.

Why does it take a tragedy to remind us what is really important in life?

Why does it take an Oklahoma City, a Columbine, or a 9/11 to jolt us into the realization that the most important investment we can make is nurturing life, caring for one another, and trying to make a positive difference wherever we find ourselves?

There are small groups of people who already know this.

Right now church youth groups in our area are planning mission trips to places all over our country where they will help renovate homes of the elderly, poor and disabled.

Habitat for Humanity builds homes for God’s people in need here in our own community.

Mission of Love delivers supplies and hope to people trying to survive in poor countries.

“The Blind Side” is an incredible story about a family who made the brave decision to change the life of a young boy who had no family, home or future.

I could go on.

Those of us in the United States are a blessed and fortunate people.

To those whom God has given much, much is required.

What are you doing with the time and the talent that God has given you?

Where can you make a positive contribution?

How can you help someone?

We need to wake up and realize that life is a gift not only to be cherished, but to be used to the fullest.

If you need a reminder of this, I invite you to watch “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Rev. Kathryn Adams is director of Protestant Campus Ministry at Youngstown State University.