what’s your defense?

Back when I was in grad school, I took a course where one of the required assignments was that we each write our own obituary. That's right, that thing that they put in the newspaper after you pass away. Now at that time, I was in my late 30s which might seem old for grad school but it’s certainly still young in terms of a normal life span. And I can just remember thinking, “I can't do this, I'm not even 40 yet. Writing an obituary is what you do when you get old. I’ve got like, 40-50 years left, how can I write my obituary?”

I was missing the whole point of the assignment of course. The intent was to simply get me thinking about the future and what I wanted that to look like.

Fast forward to 2021 when I’m quickly closing in on my 65th birthday. Obviously, my window of opportunities is starting to close. So, I decided to take a short online course to help me get a handle on what I want to accomplish with the time I have left. Of course, one of the exercises was to write my obituary. Not again?! But this time it was different, very different and here’s why.

The course instructor said to create an obituary that was a defense of why my life was meaningful. Not a list of all the things I did or what I belonged to, but why my life was meaningful. In essence, why my being here had made any difference at all.

I never thought to look at it that way. 

I bet you haven’t either.

Here’s the takeaway:

The takeaway is a familiar theme, here at Intentional Faith. Don’t we seem to spend much of our lives chasing the things that have very little meaning in life? Do you think it matters to God where you went to school, what clubs or organizations you belonged to, your professional affiliations, how much money you made or the car you drove?

Is that the legacy you want to leave?

Wherever you are in your life, start working on your obituary now. Assume the good Lord will give you 80 years, and then start making the case as to why your life was meaningful. You’re going to be amazed at the change in perspective you’ll have.