Life as Chapters
We celebrate birthdays as milestones each year. But as we grow older we do not so much live our lives year by year but by chapters. Even if you are still in your youth you can probably look back and see how your life has been lived in two, or three, or perhaps four distinct chapters. Some are easy to see: preschool years, elementary school, etc. For most getting a drivers license turns one’s life into an entirely new chapter.
When you get close to fifty like me you really can see how life is lived more like a book than by the calendar year. I have not only enjoyed many chapters, but also major parts to life: Part One, life at home through high school. Part Two: college years (undergrad and grad) with a special chapter on the transition from being single to married life. Part Three: parenting and early full-time vocation. Part Four: the Southeastern years.
Okay enough of that. You get the idea. What is my point? We should see life as not a drab existence of the same old, same old, but as a compelling story with twists and turns and surprises and major turning points.
This fall marks a major turning point. This fall Michelle and I now have two freshmen: Josh as a freshman in college and Hannah in high school. We are still learning all the changes marked by this turning. We have set about parenting with a goal of raising children to become adults, not adult children. Josh has become a young man. Still much to learn, but we are grateful for the young man he is becoming. Hannah has grown up so much in the last couple of years as well.
I am also transitioning. For the last few years writing has been a central part of life. This year I will have finished two books and welcomed one (Join the Movement) into the published world, not to mention chapters in other books, etc. I will still write. But I will focus more than ever on my students and on traveling in ministry. I figure I have about 15-20 years to have vigor and health to travel frequently and be of service to the Lord in that way, so I want to make the most of it. So I suppose I am moving into Part Five, the years of influence. Hopefully I am old enough to have something to say that will be helpful but not too old to be able to communicate it J. We shall see.
I remember as a child thinking when my dad turned forty he would really be old. Now that I am forty eight I realize these are truly the great years of life. I loved high school. College was even better. Early marriage was amazing. Raising young children has been a blast. But these are the great years. I now have lived long enough to look back and see the amazing work of God for some time now. No one has to convince me that the genuine article of Christianity is more adventure than ritual.
How many chapters have you lived? Would it help you to sit down and think through your life thus far as a book, noting the chapters along the way? How have you allowed God to write your story? Has it been His story told through you, or has it been your story? That is the difference between a great book and a soon forgotten one.
August 18th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
So true. I am only 25, but I can definately see chapters that have come to pass and some that are still being written. It is amazing the stories that are written when we let God write them and not try to dictate them on our own. The seasons in life that were dicatated by me are ones of suffering, searching, and ultimately coming to the reality that I am not the one to be writing these chapters. I have to yeild my wants and wishes to God’s will, knowing that HE knows what is best for me and is only out for good. He is so faithful when we ultimately relinquish our control to Him, He knows what is best and when we remain in Him, the chapters are much richer and more complete. Take care, Doc. I miss ya!!