In the month of July we were blessed to have our grandchildren Diedrck and Annika stay with us for three and a half weeks. At the same time we have been rehabbing a house we are renting out in mid-August, so there were some days that I tried to be there to work with Al while the kids were around. A couple of days just Diedrick went to help Papa. When there was a good project for an 8 year old it was fun to watch him do "real work." He took down a section of fencing all by himself, primed an area in the house that would have been much harder for an adult size body to paint, removed old carpeting from the outdoor porch...real jobs. As long as he had "real work" he was ready to help, however, when there wasn't anything constructive to do it was not long before it was time to move on.
It was obvious as I watched Diedrick, but it also seemed like a parable of life. When we know that we are making a difference, are contributing, and have a purpose we have more energy, are motivated, and easier to get along with.
In a conversation with Kaan, the Cambodian young man I talked about in a previous blog, I asked him who had the best job of the people he knew. He responded, "Charlie." I asked why it was a great job and he said, "Because every night he can go home and know he has helped somebody."
Kaan wants a job with purpose. One of the greatest challenges for those of us in midlife and early retirement is to wrestle with the question of, "What will give my life meaning?" "Where will I find the joy of knowing I make a difference in the world?" "What have I been created for at this season of my life?"
The statistics on depression, divorce and suicide in midlife as concerning...they all go up. People are wrestling with their identity, their place in the world, family, church, community. The world tells us we are becoming less important, but God tells us we are to be becoming more and more Christlike.
Statistics also tell us that as we age we will be healthier and happier if we live a life of meaning and purpose. It is very easy to stay busy...but are we busy with the things God is calling us to do and be? Jesus said, "I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly!" He didn't add, "until they are about 65, or 75 or...." In order to experience "abundant life" we have to be living with all the meaning and purpose God has created us for.
What gives me joy is helping others discover the wonderful creation they are, by the grace of God, and helping them find their God given passion.
Lord, give us good work...real work...work that impacts the kingdom and the world for the Glory of you, O Lord. So be it!
It was obvious as I watched Diedrick, but it also seemed like a parable of life. When we know that we are making a difference, are contributing, and have a purpose we have more energy, are motivated, and easier to get along with.
In a conversation with Kaan, the Cambodian young man I talked about in a previous blog, I asked him who had the best job of the people he knew. He responded, "Charlie." I asked why it was a great job and he said, "Because every night he can go home and know he has helped somebody."
Kaan wants a job with purpose. One of the greatest challenges for those of us in midlife and early retirement is to wrestle with the question of, "What will give my life meaning?" "Where will I find the joy of knowing I make a difference in the world?" "What have I been created for at this season of my life?"
The statistics on depression, divorce and suicide in midlife as concerning...they all go up. People are wrestling with their identity, their place in the world, family, church, community. The world tells us we are becoming less important, but God tells us we are to be becoming more and more Christlike.
Statistics also tell us that as we age we will be healthier and happier if we live a life of meaning and purpose. It is very easy to stay busy...but are we busy with the things God is calling us to do and be? Jesus said, "I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly!" He didn't add, "until they are about 65, or 75 or...." In order to experience "abundant life" we have to be living with all the meaning and purpose God has created us for.
What gives me joy is helping others discover the wonderful creation they are, by the grace of God, and helping them find their God given passion.
Lord, give us good work...real work...work that impacts the kingdom and the world for the Glory of you, O Lord. So be it!
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