Death, Taxes, and Stuff

There are certain things in life that are inevitable.

One of those is a trip to the bathroom during the night for men of a certain age. And for the men of a certain age that live at my house (that would be only one of us, by the way), that trip may include ideas that turn into ponderings that delay the return to slumberland.

Last night’s trip turned into pondering on the origin of the phrase that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. 

Yes, my friend, I thought about death and taxes at 1:35 a.m. while returning from the bathroom.

My brain works in mysterious ways.

Therefore at about 6:45 this morning, I was googling.

The quote is most often attributed to Benjamin Franklin: “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

That’s actually a partial quote from a letter Franklin wrote in 1789 to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, a French physicist. The full quote says, “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

But the phrase did not originate with Ben. It actually appears the first time 73 years earlier (1716) in “The Cobbler of Preston” by British dramatist Christopher Bullock: “’Tis impossible to be sure of any thing but Death and Taxes.”

Of course there is this quote attributed to Will Rogers (1879-1935): “The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.”

The fact that I am thinking about death and taxes should make a little more sense to you when I tell you that I have been—finally, for the past week—working on my 2020 tax information. (Thank you, Snowpocalypse, for the few weeks’ deadline extension). 

As I have been plowing through my file folders of receipts and adding up all the numbers to send to my CPA, I’ve been reminded of some “stuff” that goes along with taxes.

I’ve been reminded of the things I purchased that seemed urgent at the time, but I have yet to put to full use.

I’ve been reminded of a few business meals with people who have become precious to me.

I’ve been reminded of the miles I drove (certainly fewer than previous years) that took me to important connections.

I’ve been reminded of things that I inherited last year through the death of my dad. I’d give them back in a heartbeat for another conversation with him.

I’ve been reminded that through the craziest year in my lifetime, life continued.

Maybe that’s the most important lesson of all.

By the grace of God, we have been able to go on with the stuff of living.

By the grace of God, there have still been good days filled with blessing.

By the grace of God, we have known His presence and provision through the hard days.

By the grace of God, we have found amazingness in the midst of chaos and confusion.

That’s some good stuff.

Be amazing today, my friend.