Thoughts on New Years Day…

It’s a new year, which I admit is a good time to think about how I might proceed differently in the upcoming year. For years, many of my resolutions had to do with “not” goals. As in “I’m not gonna____________ (ie: eat too much, drink so much, stay at work so long).” I started to wonder if this year I might make the resolutions more positive. In fact, I wondered if maybe I needed to start with a vision and with some significant goals—something more lasting, something potentially life-changing.

Here are a few of my thoughts that came to mind. I thought I’d share them. You can take them or leave them. After all, life is all about personal choices. But keep in mind, life also very fleeting.

Since I was looking for a vision of what I wanted my life to be, I decided to look backward from the end of my life on earth. They say, “You can’t take it with you.” I don’t know who “they” are, or what “it” is, but seems to me you can’t take anything with you.

But that begs the question, “Other than stuff, what am I going to leave behind?”

Seems to me the value of a life is measured by how much of it is given away. And I’m not talking about money. I’m talking about time (my most valuable commodity), treasure, talent, teaching, etc.

I came to that theory as a result of my observations at the various funeral services I’ve attended. Which seem to be happening more often than they used to be. People at funerals don’t seem to discuss the net worth of the deceased, his title, his house, or his car. They seem to primarily discuss how the deceased touched their lives with acts of friendship and kindness; how caring the person was; how generous the person was with his time; how he was always there for them no matter how inconvenient it was for the giver. Even as I write this (with tears in my eyes), friends come to mind who have lovingly touched my life—who gave some of their life to me. I wouldn’t doubt that you’re also thinking now about some of the same kind of friends.

That’s what I want my funeral to look like. Seems to me that contentment comes not in what we are no longer doing or even in “success,” but in how we are spending our time honoring God and lovingly helping others.

When Jesus was asked, what’s the greatest commandment, he replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22: 36-40).

It’s interesting how Jesus tied those commands together. Maybe, they are kind of one-in-the-same. It’s easy to talk about how much we love God, but it seems to me, loving others is one of the tangible ways we love God.

Actions speak louder than words. Helping a newly divorced FATC buddy; or taking the time to teach a man to fly fish so he can enjoy God’s creation with friends and family; organizing a group fly fishing trip to the Spring River, Crane Creek, the Menominee River, or the Watauga; cooking or guiding at a FATC ALTAR retreat; or even organizing a FATC bourbon tasting to foster fellowship and raise some money for FATC charities—all seem to me to be more generous and loving than merely warming a church pew for 40 years.

Tangible, action oriented—I like that. In James Epistle in the Bible, he says, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says, Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves” (James 1:22 NLT).

Now, I’m starting to get a more clear vision of what I want 2024 and beyond to look like for me. My mission is more clear now. I choose to live a purpose driven life.

Now I pray with God’s help I recognize the opportunities before me and I continue in that direction—because direction, not intentions determine destination.

I was wondering do you think about what your legacy will be. Do you have a vision of how it might look? What do you want others to say about you at your funeral? More importantly, how will you answer God when he asks, “What did you do with what I gave you”—your time, your talents, your affluence, as well as your influence?

• This topic was modified 4 months ago by JOHN MUCKERMAN.