As we move through the many stages and experiences of life we can bump up against mammoth walls that have us wondering about life … it’s meaning, it’s purpose. We may even be so stunted by the events of life that we question our life, our meaning, our purpose.
What is so wonderful about life?
At a younger age, there was anticipation of what was to come. Education, work, love, marriage, children, housing, trips, friendships … And there were celebrations for seemingly every new goal achieved.
As life moved towards midlife, life was child-centic, survival-focused. This was a beautiful season, a costly season … when rest was just out of reach and money flowed in and out in equal measure. We stepped out of the focus of celebrations, as our children stepped onto center stage. We anticipated every stage of our children’s lives, as well as a day when there would be downtime.
Then this empty nest season, where our nests may be empty (or, perhaps we wish they were). Our partner may be someone you are reconnecting with, apart from or living with in an awkward, unfamiliar silence. So many of our friendships in the past were connections through our children’s activities which are no more and so we are in the position of making new friendships. Our career may be feeding our souls, or just feeding our bodies as we count the days to retirement, or it may have been complicated as more youthful perspectives have replaced sage experience. We may be assisting our aging parents, or saying farewell to them in death. Now we look forward to the possibility of grandkids, of vacations, retirement and (do I dare say it?) of heaven.
There can be this feeling of unfamiliarity with this stage. It is uncharted territory that we are sailing into. Our relationships, with parents, spouses, children and friends may be altered. Our own bodies have and are changing, morphing into a regular out of body experience. For some, our bodies have deteriorated by use or disease. We are seeking new experiences, motivations, direction. We need a new focus, a compass to guide us into this new life experience.
So, what is so wonderful about life?
It is simple … and maybe complex at the same time.
For what is wonderful about life is …
that we get to live it … each day a fresh start, a blank slate. We have opportunity to do, to go, even just to be.
Life, it is the gift that not all are granted.
It might me airy fairy or Pollyanna of me, but, each breath that we get to breathe is a precious, undeserved, unpromised grace. And it is from the God who created us.
May we receive this gift of life, each day we awake, for it is wonderful indeed
itsawonderfilledlife 