Recently, actually in the same week, I had a statement made to me and a question asked of me that made me stop and reflect. Does that ever happen to you? Can one word or phrase someone says jump out at you and challenge you to think about your life for a moment?
Either way, here’s what happened to me and I thought it was important enough to share.
One Statement:
I have become friends with our local university president. Recently while we were having lunch, I talked to him about the possibility of getting my doctorate. I just completed my second masters degree this past month. He was encouraging, but questioned how I would do that and continue to pursue the big dreams God has me in the middle of right now. His statement was:
Ron, at our age, we can’t afford to waste a moment of our time.
Wow! Do you see the urgency in that statement? He’s right. What he didn’t know at the time is that I didn’t plan to quit everything else to pursue a doctorate, but the point is well taken. I need to be more purposeful in my life these days than ever before. I’m thinking…perhaps…that you do also!
One Question:
My son Nate has always been part of my personal accountability, whether I asked for it or not. He’s home for the summer and recently while throwing a baseball he asked me this question: Dad, are you going through a mid-life crisis?
He was referring to my increased passion lately for writing, networking, and connecting online. He specifically wanted to know if I was building my platform for my own sense of accomplishment. He wanted to make sure I wasn’t getting a big head.
I answered him by saying something such as, “Well, if it’s the kind that you’ve heard about, where a man grows his hair long again, gets a new moustache, a girlfriend or a motorcycle, then the answer is ‘No!’.” The truth is, however, and what I went on to explain to him, is that I am more purposeful than I’ve ever been in my life. For the same reasons my university president’s statement resonated with me so loudly, I want to be even more purposeful these days than ever before in my life. If that’s a mid-life crisis…so be it!
What about you? Why are you doing what you are doing?
I recently had a related experience.
I guess once we knew what our purpose really is, then we will always live to cease the day…
I have always had a missional heart but took up presuits that looked more like the termenater & less like God, now that i'm older I'm being more perpesful as well, #1 not trying to do it alone. #2 making sure it's God wan'ting me to do it & at least trying to stay in his will while I acomplish it, instead of what I deem worthy. #3 asking & being willing to acsept help, encourgement support (still pretty weak in this area but still trying). so eventhough some might not consider me all that old I know I don't have time to mess around anymore with being a lone ranger becuse that acomplished nothing but beating my body down. thank you so much for this post Ron. I needed the encourgement to stop worring about how I'm going to accomplish what God has called me to do & just try to have the faith that it will work out like it's supposed to.
Good add! Thanks for sharing. Lone Rangers only work in westerns….
I believe my turning point towards purposefulness came when I started writing back in the early 1990's. Up until that point, all of my energies were directed towards being a mom of many children. Writing completely changed my life and it prepared me for my teaching job which opened up in 2002 as I ended up earning my master's degree. Now that I have that degree and have settled into teaching, I've been able to start writing again. I'm in a much better position to write what's on my heart to write.
That sounds like a good place to be!
I'm doing what I'm doing because I mismanaged our family's funds and allowed us to get into deep debt. I work like crazy to keep my job in a horrible economy from fear I won't find a job if I lose this one. Little fires creep up from work and eat family time and other time where I could be doing what I want to be doing. Frankly, I don't know how I'm going to get out of it. I'm just praying for God to open a door to where He wants me to be because I don't think frazzled, worried and stressed is His plan. 🙂
Praying with you
Ron,
I don't usually reply to blog posts but on this one I couldn't resist! With all due respect to the good president, I would have to ask how intellectual pursuits are a "waste" of time? I'm quite surprised by his statement. Is it not possible that God's plan may include your pursuit of additional education? Would it not make you a better leader, especially given the wonderful position in which God has placed you? Moreover, at 45 years old (I'm assuming we're close to the same age), what's the big deal?
At the same time, he is exactly right, we can't afford to waste any time and so if you're going to do it, do it now. I'm not sure what your most recent graduate degree related to, though I have frequently discouraged people from pursuing more than one Master's. The difference in that and a Ph.D. is phenomenal and I think in your position it could only make you a better communicator, thinker, and counselor. Of course, my opinion is very biased since I have just completed my doctoral dissertation and defend on July 19th. At the same time, I would discourage doing it just for the sake of obtaining a doctorate; it's far too much work for that. But if it is related to your field (theology, biblical studies, philosophy of religion, or even psychology or counseling), then it would be of great benefit. I cringe when people consider the acquisition of knowledge "anti-purposeful" (not that this is really what he meant, but only the way it sounded). To be sure, a doctoral program will teach you how to be all the more purposeful.
This leads me to the question, what exactly does it mean to be "purposeful"? If it means to take care and consider through prayer how we spend our time and/or the pursuits we undertake I agree, this is a must (and I'm positive this is what you mean). If, however, it means to be overly-cautious and avoid doing things that may make us better servants only because we think we're too old, then that, in and of itself, could be "anti-purposeful." I say, Go for it!
Mark
Thank you for this encouragement. I changed majors for the second masters in preparation for a future doctorate in the same field of leadership. My first masters was a seminary degree.
Of course I didn’t share all the conversation with the president. It was much longer and was extremely encouraging towards education. He was also encouraging me, however, to keep doing the things I’m currently doing. That was actually a compliment to where I already at in life and he didn’t want me to overlook the good I’m already seeing through my work. Once he realized the education was an additional effort and would be used to make me mire effective, he helped me think through potential programs.
Again. Thanks and best wishes on defending your work.
Wow, that post resonated! It's some great combination of age and the working of the Holy Spirit, but God has definitely gotten a hold of me in the past two years – a 'good' kind of mid-life crisis, and I'm also becoming much more purposeful in what I do. That included enrolling in seminary for a Masters in Ministry Leadership. I went with Rockbridge, which is 100% online, so I've not had to stop what I'm currently doing. The big new thing I'm hearing right now is that it's time to invest a lot more in others.
Thanks for sharing this post!
Keep it up. I will check out that program to share with others. Le me know how it goes.
Sounds like I'm at the same place you are. Thanks for sharing!
It’s a fun time!
I'm doing what I'm doing to hopefully draw others to Christ. Not like I am the sole person on the earth that can but it's my motivation!
Me too! Great place to be!
Thanks!