A group of ninety-five year-olds was asked what they would do differently if they could go back and do it all again. Their top three responses were:
-reflect more
-risk more
-do more things that will outlive me
What a great list. As I am going through something of a transition in my life, I find myself thinking along the lines of these ninety-five year olds on occasion. Life can get so busy or we can become so distracted that we do not live with this deeper, richer perspective in mind. Before we know it we can find that days, weeks, months and years have passed and we have not kept priorities like those above. When I think of New Year’s resolutions, I try to be guided by the three responses above. But it is easy to get distracted from a life where we reflect more, risk more and do more things that will outlive me. The pain of disappointment or infirmity can draw our attention so much that we cease to grow and make progress. Therefore, keep this phrase handy for such times: Don’t park in your pain. We have a wonderful teaching moment from Paul’s life in this regard. Paul was hurting and asked God for help. God did not answer like Paul hoped. But Paul did not park in his pain. His response is inspiring, “… for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” If this is our response, we will live lives which –reflect more –risk more and –do more things that will outlive me. This is how you raise the bar on your discipleship.