In Nicholas Sparks’ book, “The Notebook,” a poignant love story unfolds.  It’s the same type of story that filled our hearts with tears when the movie, “Love Story,” came on the screen.  Both of these tales, fill us with a mixture of sadness, passion, love, joy, overcoming the odds and finally death.

Kind of the recipe for life, I guess.  We’re born, we grow, we have relationships, we find out who we are and where we’re going, we fall in love, we overcome obstacles, sometimes we don’t, we live until there are only memories and then we die.  The common thread in life is where we’re going and how we’re going to get there.  For most, it will include a trail of tears, a ton of laughter, goal setting, failure, facing fear, building a future and living it.  At the end, there’s only death. Then what?

Life is full of challenges.  Some have more than others.  How we face those obstacles will determine what happens when our life on earth ends.  We can depend on ourselves, our intellect, our savvy or pizazz.  We can find a partner whom we can trust completely.  We can become part of a large organization where we can shine and make a name for ourselves.  We might achieve some level of success in business, the arts, politics, sports or in the everyday jobs that run our nation.  We could become famous.  We might reach the top of the ladder only to fall suddenly to the bottom rung.

In the end we all die.  It’s a fact known to every human being.  Life is a temporary thing.  Even the most illustrious individuals will die.  Some will be remembered for their deeds, their inventions, their escapades or their notoriety, but soon that memory will also fade or be replaced by new ones.

When we place our trust in things of this world, we’re clinging to something that soon loses purpose.  We need the assurance that death isn’t the end of things.  For those who trust in God, it’s only the beginning.  When the final page is turned, we can be confident of eternal life – a life without disease or pain – void of hatred and fear – one filled with peace, purpose, love and perfection.  I’d say that’s the greatest love story ever.