A Vital Life

Vitality . . . what does it mean to be vital? Very Likely, vitality means one thing to one person, while it could be something else altogether different for another. But, isn't it true that every one of us want to be vital? Don't we all want to leave a mark on this world while we are here? Don't we all want to be remembered? And yet, today I heard that we are all just 3 generations from being forgotten! Wow, what a thought . . . to be forgotten about when we're gone. The fact is that we are all going to, soon enough . . . be gone. So, what do we do to insure that we will be remembered?

This past summer, we received from the wife of Wes' cousin, a generational family story. Some of those stories are so interesting and it seemed that the ones that stood out, lasting long enough to be remembered by the older family members, were stories of either the really, really good; or the really, really bad! You know, those scoundrels who broke from tradition, broke the rules, or broke the hearts of family . . . or because they were especially honorable for one thing or another.

But, what about for me? I'm neither really, really good or really, really bad? How am I going to leave my mark on this world? Who will remember me 3 generations for now, and for what? And, is it really important to be concerned about this at all? YES!

Look at the Bible! Certain names stick out and are still remembered as persons of faith . . . but I realize that the Bible proves another thing as well, and that is, that there have been a bazillion persons of faith, who while they lived left a mark on those around them . . . even for several generations . . . whose names never made it into the written text.

So, I think the key is that we live our lives in such a way that we impact the world around us while we are here . . . and that we guarantee Heaven to be our final destination, so that we become one of the "mighty cloud of witnesses" who can intercede for those we leave behind for all of time! That means that while I'm here, on this planet, those things that I think make me vital . . . aren't the things that are "all about me." Rather, that my mind is focused on others and not self. My life is always more vital when I SEE that I am filling a gap in the life of someone else. When I SEE that I am helpful to someone else. When I SEE that I count because of the gifts I bring to those around me . . . the gift of love, the gift of friendship, the gift of faithfulness to those who feel forgotten!

"So, even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might to all the generations to come."