What do you Want to do?

In the Sunday Talk Column of the Catholic Times, a documentary filmmaker asks, "What do you want to do?"

She writes in words and videos. When asked what she does, she says, “I look into things for a long time and ask questions.” It’s not a very clear answer, but the truth. She asks questions; it's her job. She has met many important people and understood others through questions and the world in which they live.

While working as a medical documentary filmmaker for 17 years, she's met countless patients. Many suffered from serious illnesses. They were at the crossroads of life and death. 

She asked them, “If you could come out of the operating room alive, if you could live again, what would you want to do?” The question was always the same, and surprisingly, no matter who they were, their answers were always similar.

“If I could live again, even for just a few years, I would travel with my family and spend time with them.”

Their wish was to live and travel with their family. So why travel? It’s not because they suddenly want to see strange things, famous buildings, or beautiful scenery. There is only one reason people think of traveling when on the edge of life’s cliff. They want to create memories that will be remembered. 

The condition is ‘together’ with loved ones or family. They want to travel with their loved ones. What is travel? It is a time that frees one from work and daily life. 

The following are the responses, the desire to say to a wife, husband, daughter, or son, "I love you." If it was simple, why couldn't they say that easy phrase? Many people felt regret. It might be because of the conditions attached to their love. However, love is unconditional. It means that I will unconditionally support, cherish, and welcome you no matter what.

Those who face the biggest challenges in life learn painfully. We also learn through those who have learned painfully. We are all like unwanted orphans in this world; confessing "love" to those we have lived closest to is the highest tribute to life.

I ask people questions as a means of work and learning, and listen to their answers. Armed with those responses, I pose questions back to the world. So today, what do you want to do during your limited time on this earth?