Are you one of the 3 of 100 or the 97 of 100?
Are you one of the 3 of 100 or the 97 of 100?
The 97 of 100 people in the survey I heard about some years ago had reached retirement age and were not happy with the life they’d lived. The rest of the group (3 of 100) reported that they were happy and fulfilled with the life they’d lived. Those numbers grabbed me then and, guess what, they still do. And I am not here to take another survey. I am not asking you to report where you are or think you will be when that season of life is reached. I would like for you to consider what you would like to do with the rest of the time you have – maybe decades, years, months or – well you see where I am going.
The ‘reality check’ statement I heard in the movie Disney’s The Kid went something like this:
It’s not a matter of what we will be when we grow up; we are up!
Here are some questions a young man in his 30’s told me he was considering, and I thought they were/are worth considering. So I am asking myself, and now I am asking you.
1. What do you think your epitaph would be on your gravestone if you died today?
2. What do you think others would write on it to describe the person you were to them?
3. What would you like for your epitaph to be …. really?
Would you give a brief (or not so brief) answer to these three questions?
Question 1:
Question 2:
Question 3:
I mentioned to our Basic Idea Ministries prayer team in the last week or so about a friend of mine who died at 51 of asthma, diabetes, and complications from Covid. His legacy was clearly communicated by all who spoke to it at his funeral. His “epitaph” spoken by each person was the way he lived his life; namely, “Find a need and meet it.” I think that is incredibly good, don’t you? People knew his life’s calling and motto. They spoke to its simplicity, as well as, to his authenticity.
Question 1: Here are some possible epitaphs for you to consider:
I tried to be kind to all I met.
I was always the life of the party.
I never spoke an unkind word about anyone.
I was very popular and dated a lot of people.
I was the best tax collector in Jerusalem.
I caught more fish than anyone I knew.
I could really drink a lot without revealing that I was drunk.
Question 2:
He was so kind to all he met.
He was always the life of the party.
She never spoke an unkind word about anyone.
She was very popular with the men.
He was the best tax collector in Jerusalem.
He caught more fish than anyone I knew.
He could really hold his liquor.
Question 3:
He was the kindest person I knew.
He was so much fun to be around.
He spoke encouraging words to people.
He made others feel like they were so important and special.
He worked hard to be the best at all he attempted.
He loved the outdoors and enjoyed God’s creation.
He overcame a harmful way of life and refused to let it define him.
Now, I know my examples are a bit wide-ranging and far out, but how would you answer the questions for yourself? If you are brave enough (or some may say ‘crazy enough’) you might ask others to help define your epitaph, your legacy, or your identity. You might also have an in-depth talk with someone whose opinion you value about what you want it to be and how to get there.
Why waste another minute headed for a legacy you don’t even want for yourself?
BTW: Which shoe do you see as the one for the 3 of 100 crowd?