Will You Finish Well?

My life really today isn’t really what I envisioned years ago.  I don’t want to suggest that I had a clear idea or picture of what my life ought to look like.  I’m just saying that the life that I am experiencing today is not something that I pictured years ago.

What am I supposed to be like at my age?  What is this age supposed to feel like? I am not sure that I have answers to those questions (anymore than I could have told you what 30 or 40 was supposed to look like).  Yet, I am becoming sure of one thing.  It is important for me to finish well. 

I have been reading Gordon MacDonald’s A Resilient Life.  The book is basically a challenge to finish well.  Throughout the book, he tells the story of his high school track coach who prepared him to run the cross country.  He compares this preparation with the kind of preparation needed if we are going to finish well in life.  Early in the book, I came across this nugget.

Wherever I have gone and talked about the resilient life, I have insisted that one must anticipate that the greatest contributions God has for us to make will happen in the second half of life.  (p. 4)

That is exactly opposite of the way so many people think.  It is opposite of the way I am tempted to think.  We typically think that the real part of life is the first half.  Then (at least for many), we begin to pull back, dis-engage, and even shut down.  We may talk about being "old" and worn out and we are barely fifty years old!

Meanwhile, there are a lot of 20’s, 30’s, early 40’s people who are in no way, preparing for the stretch.  I am concerned about some people who may wake up one day, un-prepared for second half of the race.

• The woman/man who is consumed by her/his looks and appearance.  This persons self-worth seems to revolve around appearance.
• The young couple who continues to take on far too much debt.  They have large debts due to decisions regarding houses,  new cars, new furniture, exotic vacations, etc.  They didn’t mean to get into debt.  They just made a few decisions that put them there.  Now they have a huge mortgage, a number of payment books and basically survive from month to month.
• The man or woman who is investing very little in the marriage and now is absolutely bored.  This person might then make a foolish decision that will only serve to damage or even destroy the marriage.
• The woman or man whose entire life is wrapped up in children.  Dad (or mom) may re-live his childhood vicariously through one of his children.  Perhaps he does this through sports as he puts incredible pressure on his child to perform well.

I could go on with the above list.  (You can probably think of other situations).  But I want to return to where I am in life.

In some ways I feel very energized right now.  Ultimately, that energy comes from God.  I also, however, feel energized because of some convictions (and decisions) I have made.

• I am not stuck.  Too many people stand around and wait for life to happen to them.  Then they spend years complaining about what did happen to them.  Granted, there are some things in my life that I can’t change.  Yet, I can choose to grow and live fully, no matter what.  God’s strength and my life in Jesus is greater than any frustration that I have.
• I am free to love people.  I don’t have to stand around and wait to be loved.  I don’t have to get consumed about why this or that person doesn’t like me etc.  I am free to love people.
• I am free to be who I am as a child of God.  Weak, fearful people will forever try to control you as they insist that you measure up to their expectations.  I know.  If I could do the first half of life again, I would handle this differently.  Too much of my time has been spent worrying about not measuring up to others expectations.  Too much time and energy has been spent worrying that someone was unhappy with me (again).   No more!

No matter what, it is not too late to persist.