Buckets, Beatles, and the Beauty of Life

This past week was one of those weeks that seemed to hold the whole spectrum of human experience. We had two funerals at the church, and then on Sunday, we celebrated All Saints Sunday—a time to give thanks for those who have gone before us in faith. Grief was close at hand, but so was gratitude. We remembered lives well-lived and the promise of eternal life through Christ.

And then, almost in the same breath, we had Halloween—kids running around dressed as superheroes and ghosts, joy and laughter filling the streets. As if that wasn’t enough contrast, my wife and I also checked something off her bucket list: we went to see Paul McCartney in concert.

Now, if you’ve ever wondered where the term “bucket list” comes from, it’s from the old phrase “kick the bucket,” meaning “to die.” So, a bucket list is, quite literally, a list of things you want to do before you die. Not the most cheerful origin—but stay with me!

Seeing Paul McCartney was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. The man is in his 80s and still performing for nearly three hours straight. He played Beatles classics, told stories, and reminded everyone in the crowd that life—when you live it fully—can be a beautiful song.

That made me think about how we, as Christians, approach the idea of a “bucket list.” For many, it’s about adventure—seeing the Grand Canyon, skydiving, or hearing a Beatle live in concert. But for those who follow Christ, maybe our bucket list is shaped a little differently. Maybe it’s less about what we see before we die and more about who we love while we’re alive. Less about crossing off experiences, and more about living each day in such a way that we leave a legacy of faith, hope, and love behind us.

The saints we remembered last Sunday didn’t all climb mountains or play in famous bands. But they lived lives of quiet faithfulness, kindness, and devotion—lives that still echo in our church and in our hearts. So yes, it’s good to have a bucket list. Life is meant to be lived with joy and wonder! But maybe we should also have a blessing list—people to encourage, prayers to offer, kindnesses to give, and love to share. Because when we do, we’re not just preparing to “kick the bucket.” We’re preparing to step into eternity.

As Paul (the apostle, not McCartney) once wrote, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). That’s the kind of list worth living for.

May God hold you,
Rev Chris Hester