This term arises from the 2008 comedy movie "The Bucket List", in which two terminally ill men undertake a road trip with a wish list of things to do before they "kick the bucket".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bucket_List
Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson said that the articles he'd read on the bucket list "theme" of things to do includes long-term dreams such as a visit to Disneyland, or adventures such as bungy jumping.
He says that he has never seen a list of the sorts of things Jesus might have a follower of His engage in before they "kick the bucket".
Mark Tronson takes up this theme - Before I die, I would like to think of some "practical things" the Lord might have me consider worthwhile for me to do.
Here is my personal "bucket list", which I would embark upon should I be in a position to know ahead of time – such as a terminal illness.
Organ donation
As my earthly body will be transformed into a heavenly body, I'd instruct my family members that my earthly organs might help someone else in medical need. This could be a gift of life or the betterment of life for others.
Ensure my Will is in order
Clarify my Will, so that my wife is looked after in the first place for the remainder of her life, ensure that specific Ministry and personal items were distributed to family members, and that Missions too would be honoured with something from my earthly resources. If my wife dies before me, then I need to remember – despite my grief – to alter my Will so that the money is adequately distributed among the remaining family members.
Mission Support
Recently a friend's mother died and her instruction was to establish a foundation for Mission support. Our ministry, Well-Being Australia is a faith mission, and is a beneficiary of her bequest. (How beautiful is that!) I'd ask my family to invite our support network to donate to such a foundation in my name so as to similarly support Missions. I could add this request into my Will.
Funeral Expenses
I'd instruct my family to cut costs at every corner with funeral expenses as monies saved can be utilised elsewhere including Mission support.
Life evangelism
I'd spare everyone from the chaos of "last minute evangelism" (as if earning brownie points). I'd illustrate that 'near death' evangelism is living a life that glorifies God in all that engages me, even when leading to death.
Read The Proverbs over again
The Book of The Proverbs is the enlightened tome of wisdom for life from start to finish. What a joy it might be sitting with a grand child, a young person or anyone for that matter, and discuss wisdom from the Lord.
Write hand-written letters
I would set time aside to write hand-written letters saying "thank you" for allowing me the privilege to serve the Lord in their court. For me this would include many people in the world of sport that I have been serving in my various Pastoral and Chaplain roles within the professional sporting community.
Ministry Succession
Although this is already established in my Ministry, I'd ensure that all loose ends would be put into place.
Of course, since none of us know when we are going to be called to Glory, some of these things should already be put in order during our regular organising of our daily affairs – we don't have to wait for dreadful news from the doctor, but should live all our lives the way we would like to be remembered.
Proverbs 14 verse 32: "But the righteous have hope in his (own) death".
