Tim in his 70s, and late 20s
The older I get, the more I look back over my life. Wise decisions, foolish ones, abrupt ones, planned ones. Am I content with it? Will God be? Much of life I’ve taken it as it comes—should I have been more intentional? How can these ponderings inform the time I have left?
A few months back, some random song came on the radio, no clue as to the singer nor title, but one line struck me and I wrote this, just for fun.
I am young
my soul is free,
my body’s old
oh pity me
It was OK, but the last line didn’t ring true. It rhymed and had a touch of whimsy, but I possess no need for pity. So the poem got expanded, in several steps. Here’s the final. Not great poetry, but still fun.
I am young
my soul is free,
my body’s old
but never pity me
A life well lived
a body fully used
directions and acts
I freely did choose
So may I hear
“You have done well
enjoy your coming eons
and do your stories tell”
Looking back, I’m pretty content. Still growing, still dealing with issues, but I’ve gained perspective. So, three tips on how we can all live that last stanza.
First, be intentional. Plan. Only when we determine the goal of our life can we craft a strategy to attain it. In speaking to God’s people, Moses warned them to look ahead, “For they are…void of counsel, and there is no understanding in them. If they were wise, they would understand this, they would discern their latter end!” (Deuteronomy 32:28-29, RSV). God wants us to look ahead—I wish I’d found my terminal goal sooner, but I did get on track.
Second, in your steps to reach your final end, humbly bring God in “Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’ Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.” (James 4:13-16, NLT).
Do your research. Get wise counsel. Pray. Make a plan, and give God permission to open or close doors.
God willing, do this, and you can live that final stanza.
Kick Starting the Application
Do you have a clear goal for your life? Can you put it in one sentence? What role does God play? How open are you to God stepping in and changing your plans? What keeps you from acknowledging that he knows life better than you?