Dear Trekker,
A young college freshman turned and walked across the hotel room, exclaiming to his father, “Dad, I’m not so sure now I want to be a lawyer. I just want to be what God wants me to be, and I’m not certain what that is. But if I am a man of God, God will make my life somehow, significant.” A commitment to want to be a lawyer at 12, began to wane at 18.
The young man had left his college campus and journeyed 25 miles east into Chicago’s Loop to see his father there on a business trip. It was a tense time, but the father acquiesced; the son never went to law school, but served in the US Army almost 31 years. The young man never looked back. I know… I was that young man.
Now, 54 years later, I continue to wrestle with the issues of life, such as how does one define success, or when is a life truly significant? If I didn’t grapple with life issues, I would no longer be a learner, and learning and growing is the lifeblood of our existence, is it not?
Success… but success at ‘what’? What is the goal of life? What is the cost of success? The culture says I am successful if I make a lot of money, exercise power and authority, or have status and prestige and gain a lot of publicity. Jesus warned the crowd, “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Trekker, I’ve always considered ‘possessions’ as anything a man owns, thinks he has attained, or believes he has some inherent right to ‘take’ as his own. Luke says in his account that he who is rich in his own eyes or the eyes of the world may in fact be a fool.
A few years ago, a good friend passed me a challenging book, “Halftime, Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance.” (As some of you reading this letter know well, I passed on many a copy of this life changing book). The writer, businessman Bob Buford, said “the second half is when the game is won or lost.” And I am reminded of Jesus’ words, “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” following equally significant words, “if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. That one who wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me, will find it.“ (Matt 16)
Two significant lives have ministered to me recently. The first, Queen Esther, was a female leader of the highest order. (Trekker, go back and read this little book in the Old Testament. You can read meditatively its ten chapters in ten minutes.) Esther was challenged by her cousin and surrogate father, Mordecai, to stand and be counted for her people, the Jews. “If you remain silent at this time, relief for the Jews will come from another place. Who knows, but you have come to royal position for such a time as this.” Esther, Ch 4. Esther broke protocol, but God saved his people through the courage – ‘if I perish, I perish” – of one woman.
The second life is that of the British philanthropist and parliamentarian who almost singlehandedly abolished slavery in England, William Wilberforce. (You must see the epic film, “Amazing Grace”, now showing in theatres across the country. It is incredibly inspiring.) Wilberforce, by any calculation, lived a life of significance. What is significant in man’s eyes, i.e. success, often is not significant in God’s eyes. But what is significant in God’s eyes is always, over time, beneficial and significant to men.
Could not significance of life simply be the byproduct of Christ-likeness? One does not aim for significance as a goal. One is simply faithful, honest, just, and merciful. Micah 6:8 says it well… “act justly, have mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” Significance will occur; though it may or may not be recognized in the moment. Trekker, there are traits we must have, things we must do, if we are to demonstrate a life of significance, knowing that true significance is a life lived as Jesus lived.
First, we must be authentic. We are to be men of honor. Our word is our bond. We say what we mean; we mean what we say. We don’t speak passionately what we do not live out faithfully. We neither lie, cheat or steal; nor protect those who do.
Secondly, we are to be responsive to the needs of people. Life is not about me and my agenda. Life is a gift of God which I am to share freely with others, based upon God’s love and others’ needs. Do we see as God sees? Hear as God hears? Ask the right questions as Jesus did? “What do you want me to do for you?” he said to the blind man. I often get caught up in delivering the answer before I know the question! We are to be responsive to where people are, not to where we want them to be.
Thirdly, we must be encouragers! How does one encourage another? Direct and intentional is encouragement. As simple as a smile, going the extra mile. Sharing what you have, lending a helping hand, writing the letter, making the phone call, completing the visit, sharing what God has given you. The cup of cold water! We all can do it.
Trekker, as God has given us every good gift, withholding not even Himself, His Spirit within, we are incredibly prepared to live authentic, responsive, encouraging lives. Will that lead to a life of significance? It likely will, as the life of Queen Esther and Wilberforce, and countless others, all attest. Significance is as significance does… simply being faithful as good stewards of His amazing grace.
There never was a more significant life than the life of the lowly carpenter! We, too, can be Jesus “with skin on.”
Your fellow trekker,
Jim Meredith
