Planning To Succeed!

Maximum Impact - Living to Make a Difference # 3

Planning to Succeed!

While Bev and I were in Maine this summer, I drove down a gravel road and miles from any town, was surprised to see an old cemetery off in the woods. I stopped my car and pushed through the weeds to have a closer look at the old headstones. I enjoy reading the one line summaries of life that are etched on those old stones. Morbid, eh? But I find that a generation ago they were more creative than we are today in writing the phrases to capture the essence of the life of the person lying in the grave.

Here are few real epitaphs gleaned from old headstones....

Here lies an Atheist

All dressed up

And no place to go.

From Burlington Vt.–

She lived with her husband fifty years

And died in the confident hope of a better life. (I wonder if the writer really intended the implication?)

This man isn’t even subtle! Here lies my wife: Here let her lie!

Now she's at rest And so am I.

The best one I believe is this... cleverly written slam of the deceased!

In Memory of Beza Wood

Departed this life, Nov. 2, 1837

Aged 45 yrs.

Here lies one Wood

Enclosed in wood

One Wood - Within another.

The outer wood is very good:

We cannot praise the other.

Pastor Bill Hybels, in his recent book, Courageous Leadership, tells of gathering his staff together for a team-building exercise. He had cardboard cut-outs made into the shape of a simple headstone. At the meeting, one by one, the people were sent from the room and those remaining crafted an ‘epitaph’ for their colleague. Hybels reports that the exercise created such a bond and was so affirming, that the headstones still hang in the offices of those on the staff!

Why all this talk about headstones and epitaphs?

The Bible is frankly honest about a topic most of us avoid as much as we are able: mortality!

"Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn men back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.”

For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning—

though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered. ...

The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength;

yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. ...

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. ...

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us—

yes, establish the work of our hands." (Psalm 90, NIV)

That Psalm is attributed to Moses. He reminds us of two important facts:

1. God has fixed a lifespan for us and we won’t live forever here on this earth.

2. Only a life well-lived in the wise ways of the Lord will lead to the favor of the Lord.

Only those who plan to live well, do! Goals guide us, therefore, the goals we choose must be carefully considered, worthy of the dreams that God would have us dream. We need to plan to succeed!

Many people let life happen to them. Their life is a zig-zag course, a reaction to one thing or another. The need for purpose and direction in that kind of life is obvious!

There is another issue that is less obvious. Some people live with purpose, but not a focused purpose of accomplishment for the glory of God. Instead they spend inordinate amounts of time and energy building defenses against people, situations, diseases, and things that might have a negative effect on their lives.

For example: I applaud saving and preparing for the time in life when a person no longer will be able to produce an income. But, I do not understand a person who lives a pinched, miserly life while sitting on abundant resources that they won’t touch or spend ‘just in case.’

A life that is guided simply by risk avoidance will be a life that misses on many opportunities to do good, to find joy, and to live to full!

I have found the writings of Stephen Covey most helpful. His best known book made an especially deep impression on me; 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The one thing that I took from reading it that we can choose to live ‘on purpose.’ Just about every year since then, early in the year, I take time to reflect on what I am doing with my life, who I am serving, how I am relating to others, and the way I am using resources.