Living Life Backwards August 7, 2010
Last week Pastor Jonathan spoke on Ecclesiastes 12 and the meaning of life. (Click here to download the sermon.) One of the queststions he posed was, “What do you want said about you at your memorial service?” As I pondered this question this week, I was blessed by my friend’s blog post written about her late father. Please be encouraged by this wonderful example of what it looks like to “live life backwards”.
Written by Karyn Schneider
Wasted No More
The truth is the majority of people are wasting their lives. And I admit I have wasted most of mine. We spend time looking for fulfillment in an array of ways only to realize we put our hope into the wrong thing…again. The new job, the new friend or new car or home may bring a temporary happiness, which many, perhaps most, misconstrue as fulfillment… but happiness is not the same thing as fulfillment. Happiness fades, true fulfillment doesn’t.
My dad was a man who lived a humbly. He was a dairy farmer for the first half of his life, then a custodian. He didn’t care about worldly possession, but the ones he had he counted as a blessing…a gift from the Lord and would have readily given them up to help someone in need. To the world looking in, he would appear to be a regular Joe, a man who perhaps didn’t achieve as the world pressures. He did not chase after the mighty dollar; he did not seek after prestigious positions, or dress to impress. He was meek, dedicated to his work, devoted to his family and friends and eagerly looked forward to helping others. He was fulfilled. He longed for little and gave everything. He was humble, he was sacrificial. He did not live to the world’s standards and it didn’t bother him. He did not strive to look like the world.
At his memorial service last week, where over 450 people attended, I heard countless stories of how my Dad touched their lives in remarkable ways…mostly through his attitude and his servant hood. As someone who knew his heart well, I can say I believe he had the right idea for he was a man fulfilled, longing to bring glory to Jesus in everything he did. He did not waste a single day…not one! If my Dad were to read these words, he would shake his head and with tears in his eyes say, “no Beloved, I have barely scratched the surface of living a life worthy of the calling”. “The calling” that he would refer to is a life basked in the hope of Jesus.
As I have spent much time reflecting these past weeks since my dad passed away, I have realized that life is not about mastering or attaining many things, like the world reflects; it is about being mastered by one great thing! My Dad’s life counted for something eternally…I want to be consumed by that same fire and not waste another second of my life!
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” Matthew 22: 37
I love you Dad and am hugging you in my heart…forever!
Thank you for sharing this Karyn. It is a sweet tribute to your Dad – as well as an encouragement for all of us to live the life worthy of the calling! I pray Jesus is especially close to you during this new season of your life..