Young at Heart
I had a relative who celebrated his fiftieth birthday. He was in perfect health, but he decided to undergo intensive checking, just in case. B’chasdei Shamayim, all the test results came back clear. Even the doctor who checked his heart was extremely pleased with its regular rhythm, commenting that he had not met a man his age with such a young heart in a very long time.
The man returned home in good spirits. His family celebrated together with him. But no one is guaranteed long life. That very night, he suffered a massive heart attack and returned his soul to his Maker.
One never knows when his end will come. Even if he feels his body is functioning optimally, and his doctors are happy with his health, he has no guarantee that his next moment will be the same. His life can grind to a sudden halt with no forewarning.
This is why our Sages exhort us to do teshuvah on a constant basis. They teach (Avot 2:10), “Repent one day before you die.” Since no one knows when he will die, he must regard each day as his last. In this manner, he will do teshuvah every day.
