“Halfway to 100”

The Second Half Begins

I've always loved to write. As I celebrate reaching halfway to 100 today, God is on the verge of granting me one of the desires of my heart. 

To mark the occasion, this is the painted canvas for my soon-to-be-published book on Amazon. Choose: Fulfill Your Created Purpose is for high school graduates (paperback and Kindle).

A nautical theme flows throughout this 100-page book to honor my childhood in Charleston on the South Carolina coast.

Choose is the book I wish I'd read before I went to college 200 miles from home. I’m releasing it this fall hoping to reach some college freshmen, but especially high school seniors. Perhaps it will spark dialogue with their parents this year while they’re still under the family’s roof.

“Popcorn From God”

Notes On My Church Bulletin

When an important idea enters my mind, I hurry to capture it before it vanishes.

I was born a note taker and a list maker. I’ve always written down stuff to help me remember. But at midlife my memory isn’t what it used to be, so I rely on notes and lists more than ever.

Each week I fill my bulletin with notes, sermon and personal. On Sunday during the offering I scribbled a thought: “The Lord’s prayer says, ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ Like manna, each day God will give me what I need for my book.”

Who knew God would use my scribal tendencies to give me a surprise?

“What Will Be Your Legacy?”

Super Reflections

After Seattle beat Denver 43-8, some fans are questioning Peyton Manning’s legacy. He is a five-time MVP. He set additional NFL records this season. But in the Super Bowl, Peyton is 1-2. Despite elite talent and taking his team to the playoffs annually, #18 has only hoisted the Lombardi trophy once. Younger brother Eli, with less regular season success in his career, has done it twice.

I’m not bashing Manning. He didn’t snap the ball for a safety on his team’s first play. He didn’t give up a kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half or fail to block Seattle’s defensive line all night. The whole team played flat at the worst time of the year. And Seattle is no cupcake. They earned the right to play in the Super Bowl. Sunday night, they merited a decisive win.

What About Us?

In a culture obsessed with winning, where bottom line results are all that count, #18’s track record will be tainted if he fails to win another Super Bowl before he retires. Crazy, isn’t it? Winning one Super Bowl isn’t enough. A quarterback must do it at least twice to forge the proper legacy.

Some talking heads believe this; I don’t. Does his father Archie deserve less respect just because he never played in a Super Bowl? Whether Peyton wins another title or not, his legacy should be secure.

Set free to soar on my journey, I wonder how this not-yet-published writer will be remembered. I don’t possess Peyton Manning’s name recognition. Most of my town couldn’t pick me out of a lineup. But does this mean I’m a failure just because no one gives money to charity every time I holler, “Omaha!”?

In her recent blog post at “The Write Conversation” (01/24/14), Edie Melson wrote, “Publication isn’t the sole definition of writing success. Touching someone’s life through the words I pen, whether it’s on a blog or a book or an article, is way more important than a book contract.”

I like Edie’s quote. I posted her words near my computer as a reminder about genuine success in the writing world. Of course I want to be published someday. But in the end, the sole indicator of success is neither the number of books published nor the number of Super Bowl wins.

  

One popular definition of success is commonly attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), though Bessie Stanley may have written it in 1905. The quote ends as follows:

To leave the world a bit better,

Whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Jesus’ definition of success is counter-intuitive. “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45, NIV).

The ultimate prize awaits those who obey Jesus. “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21 and 23, NIV).

Servanthood + Faithfulness with what God has given us

= True success in God’s kingdom.

NFL records and book contracts are good. Super Bowl trophies and best-seller awards are better. But the best legacy of all is to hear Jesus say, “Well done!”

David