Living Life Backwards

I've been reading a book by Robert Littlejohn called "Wisdom and Eloquence". In it he talks about teaching kids with the end in mind. What do we want our kids to be able to do when they graduate high school? What do we teach them their senior year? Their Junior year? And so on down to Kindergarten. As we plan to home school Ashley, this seems like a very good plan.

But I was thinking today...what if I lived my life with the end in sight? As a Christian, my eternal life is secure in my faith in Christ's atoning work. But what about the end of this life?

If I don't want to be buried in a piano crate, I need to keep my weight in check. OK that was a bit of an exaggeration but still. How do I want to be remembered? I'm remembered as the singing cashier at the book store. Or the town crier--for my closing announcements.

And bringing those two ideas together...How do I want Ashley to remember me? What do I want her to learn simply by watching me? Exercise is a daily enjoyable task. Housework is a way of life. That whatever our hands find to do, we do with all our might. That eating healthy is as much fun or even more than eating junk. That cooking is not a chore. That reading is great fun. That nature walks are an everyday thing...rain or shine.

A similar idea is touted in lots of home decorating books...Don't start with the stuff, start with the vision. How do you want your home to feel? to you? to your family? to guests?

I'm going to have to think on these things a bit more.

I've lived a lot of my life for today. Eating what tasted good, even if I feel bloated later. Resting in when a brisk walk would have energized me more. Reading and watching for entertainment alone without even trying to glean nuggets of lasting truth.

There is a balance between living for today and living for the end. Maybe that's what I want to be remembered as...a Balanced Person...

Subscriptions

At this time of year we are all looking for gift ideas for ourselves and for others. I would like to share some of my favorite things.

First of all is Tabletalk Magazine. This monthly magazine "exists to help explain important Biblical doctrines and events while encouraging people toward Holy living. Each issue features articles from well-known and respected scholars, regular columns, and insightful daily Bible studies.

An interesting twist on magazine and NPR is Mars Hill Audio. This is great for commuters. It comes on CD or cassette. This publication "is committed to assisting Christians who desire to move from thoughtless consumption of contemporary culture to a vantage point of thoughtful engagement."

The third is Wondertime Magazine. This magazine "dedicated to helping parents nurture their children's love of learning". I thoroughly enjoy this magazine. The layout, the articles, the colors even the paper.

Any of these three would make a great gift for a friend or for yourself.

Tis the season...
Have fun!!

more TV truths

So, I'm watching House Season 3. The character House is a jerk. I mean really a jerk. One day I even questioned why we watch someone who is such a jerk. Why subject ourselves to fictional jerks when real life is full of them.

I know why.

Because they make our lives seem better. No one has a friend as bad as House. No one has parents as bad as George Costanza. No one has a co-worker as bad as Dwight Shrute. No one has a family as bad as Micheal Bluth. That's why. And if those employees, sons and co-workers can make it, we can too.

It's all about Hope.

If Napolean can be that goofy and dance like that...there's hope for us. If Toula can have a family like that and marry a guy like that...there's hope for us. We might be a bit of a neat freak but Monk shows us that if he can do it...there's hope for us.

I like that. I like coming out on the good end of the stick. And I like Hope. I like feeling that I can ride the wave of life and end up on a beach somewhere.