Appraising Life
This week, as I write these words, I'm looking ahead to celebrate another birthday. And I thank God for His grace in my life.
It's been awhile since I took stock of where I'm going. Birthdays can be tough, especially at my age! How many years lie between now and when I turn 70? Well, not too many any more.
You know what I'm trying to say? Birthdays are opportunities to trim off fat of careless or lazy thinking. They are great times to take a lean, hard look at the years remaining. It's high time I come to terms with my future.
So this birthday, I force my self to pull off the road and ask some challenging, realistic questions. Here are a few that I'm reflecting on to appraise my remaining life onwards:
* Am I truly happy and fulfilled in my life?
* Have I been wisely and sufficiently making a consistent investment of my time, resources, and talents to serve and help people, for things that last beyond earthly life or for God's glory and cause?
* Is the present, continuing direction of my life leading me to a more satisfying, meaningful future?
* Can I honestly say that what I do now and the plans I have for my remaining years are in the nucleus of God's will for me?
Solomon, the wise, offers solid counsel:
"Remember also your Creator .... before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, 'I have no delight in them'; .... Remember Him before .... the spirit will return to God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12: 1, 6-7).
You know what I'm trying to say? Birthdays are opportunities to trim off fat of careless or lazy thinking. They are great times to take a lean, hard look at the years remaining. It's high time I come to terms with my future.
So this birthday, I force my self to pull off the road and ask some challenging, realistic questions. Here are a few that I'm reflecting on to appraise my remaining life onwards:* Am I truly happy and fulfilled in my life?
* Have I been wisely and sufficiently making a consistent investment of my time, resources, and talents to serve and help people, for things that last beyond earthly life or for God's glory and cause?
* Is the present, continuing direction of my life leading me to a more satisfying, meaningful future?
* Can I honestly say that what I do now and the plans I have for my remaining years are in the nucleus of God's will for me?
Solomon, the wise, offers solid counsel:
"Remember also your Creator .... before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, 'I have no delight in them'; .... Remember Him before .... the spirit will return to God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12: 1, 6-7).
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