two halves

"One cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life's morning; for what was great in the morning will be of little importance in the evening, and what in the morning was true will at evening become a lie." Carl Jung

This quote reminds me of the book Halftime by Bob Buford. It seems to be true for most people that I know that we spend the first part of our life collecting and the second half of life giving. Or as Buford says, the first half is about success, the second half is about significance. Its not that young people cannot give, many of them do, especially in the current generation of young people. But my generation seemed to want to gather to itself while young. More TV's, a higher salary, more toys, a bigger 401k, it seems like we just could not get enough.

Thank God we turned 50! Many people that I know now are looking to reduce what they have. They are generous, not just to the church and its work, but generous to everything. We are starting to realize that you can't take it with you. And I am meeting so many young folks who are on this journey as well. Oh if I had only been that smart when I was young.

There is so much joy in life when the race to have more starts to wind down. It is then that our hearts can begin to focus on the real work of life, the real work of the soul, and we find again, the joy of caring for others, and living outside of ourselves.

Which half of life are you in? Do you hear a life of generosity calling to you? Lean away from the rat race and begin to find the joy.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.