20080928

“100X” is going to be the epitaph of Bob Buford, the author of the book “Half-Time”. An epitaph is an inscription on a tombstone in memory of the one buried there.  Bob Buford has chosen to have this simple inscription describe his life mission and purpose.  He has taken Matthew 13:23 as a challenge to motivate the second half of his life journey.  He wants to be remembered as the seed planted in fertile soil and multiplied a hundred fold.  This is how he envisions his legacy and how he wishes to express his passions and core commitments.  Many of us do not think so far ahead, let alone plan a written epitaph.   But this really could be a good start to a glorious end.

Many organizations, corporations and churches have developed and adopted mission statements.  However, have we met someone who has written a personal life mission statement?  Soren Kierkegaard (1813-55), the Danish philosopher said: “What I really lack is to be clear in my mind what I am to do, not what I am to know.  The thing is to understand myself, to see what God really wishes me to do … to find the idea for which I can live and die.”  A personal life mission statement becomes “the magnetic North Pole, the focal point”.  As one move in life’s journey, one repeatedly stop and check if one is walking in the right direction, following and being faithful to that true North.  A life personal mission focuses on what one wishes to be and do, based on the values and principles that under gird all one’s beliefs and actions.  If one knows how one wants to end and be remembered, an epitaph could be the beginning of a personal mission.  Assuredly one’s life could become more purposeful and focused and thus bring more satisfaction and happiness.  Before one starts to write it, the one most important and vital question to consider is: “What or Who is our magnetic North?”

The Apostle Paul’s last words to his spiritual son Timothy testify to a glorious ending. He implores Timothy to follow his teaching, to know his way of life and his single-minded purpose.  When we read about Paul’s first half of his life we know it is diametrically different from the second half of his life.  He changed from “Persecutor of the Church” to “Preacher for Christ”.  That life changing second half is what formulated his finale in life.  His tombstone epitaph could well be: “FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT – KEPT THE FAITH”.  This is the essence of Paul’s personality and his soul; his passions and his commitments.  His was a glorious end indeed!