From The Storyteller
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Sept. 16, 2019, Done
"Last night I typed the last period on the last sentence of my dissertation. It’s done, and I’m done. I can’t believe it’s over”, says my good friend, who after years of hard work earned the title “Doctor”. Today, as I think about that conversation, I’m reminded of the truth in a message Elaine shared with me several years ago, “You’re not done until I (God?) say you’re done.” The message is the same for both believers and nonbelievers, “Life has a beginning, a middle and an end; we just don’t know where the middle is.” I’m 72, quite sure I’ve past the middle of my life, and like all of us the number of my tomorrows is unknown. Until that day, when the middle is identified, there’s more to come, and I’m not done yet. I know my future includes a funeral, and what I do with my life before that funeral is something I have at least some control over. I’m comfortable with the belief that our purpose is to celebrate the gift of life by actively participating in Creation. The challenge: How best to do that (at age 72+), and what “tools” can I rely on to help me make the most of it. This is not about owning a Swiss Army Knife and good health insurance. Nice to have, but with realistic limitations. No, I found the “tools” necessary to help me participate in life are of a different kind. I heard about these tools from others. I ultimately settled on six. They are: Be generous; be forgiving and not carrying bitterness; having compassion for others; pursuing peace in every situation; being honest with all people; and listening to the wisdom of others. They’ve worked well for me. I offer them to you. Moral: Useful “tools” - for people who are not done yet. |