I had coffee with a friend recently who’s coming out of a crazy-hard season in her life. After all she’s been through, she came out of it with one word: Live!

Just a few weeks ago, my family finished reading through the Bible book of Ecclesiastes. After examining his life and searching for meaning only to be utterly disappointed again and again, the writer came to this conclusion:

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. (9:7–10)

And, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (12:13).

Or in the words of my friend: Live!

Eat good food. Drink good drinks. Wear the clothes. Enjoy your spouse, your kids, your neighbors, your friends. Do what is right and God-pleasing. Dream big and go after whatever you find to do with everything you’ve got: hook, line, and sinker. Why not? One way or the other, as the author of Ecclesiastes reminds us often, we are always one day, one hour, one minute closer to death. We only have so much time, so this is the time to do it.

I’m not suggesting you quit your job and buy a boat (although if you do, let me know) or take up figure skating in hopes of being the next Alysa Liu. I am suggesting you start doing the things you keep saying you’ll do “someday.”

Get together with your neighbor. Start a Bible study. Go to dinner with friends. Build the firepit for family get-togethers. Read the book on making sourdough. Say yes to the next friend who asks you to go to a conference or concert or class. Pray bigger prayers for the kingdom of God: that the Holy Spirit produces faith in your atheist neighbor and brings the prodigals home, that churches reach the lost, and that the Word of God goes places it hasn’t been.

Do something you’ve always said you would. Volunteer. Get busy praying and working in the kingdom of God. Today is as good as any to start. Who knows what doors God will open?

Even if it doesn’t turn out the way you hope, you won’t have to wonder any more if it would have. And I’m willing to bet that you’ll learn valuable lessons and meet incredible people along the way.