I knew a man who was alive and vibrant in his church in his 30s. He seemed to grow and connect with others in a meaningful way. However, something happened in his 40s.
He found his recliner. That became his location for much of his life. Sitting and mindlessly watching hour after hour of television.
Then there are others who seem to live vibrant meaningful lives until the day they die. Don’t misunderstand. For many of these people, life is anything but easy. They might have family struggles and health challenges. Yet, these people are fully alive.
So what can a person do to stay fresh all of her life?
- Build rhythm into your life (Luke 4:40-43; 5:15-16; 6:12-13). Many have no rhythm at all. Rather, they respond to every distraction (Facebook, Twitter, texts, e-mail, for example) that might come their way. People with rhythm understand that they must determine the priorities in their lives and manage their energy, or the distractions will consume them.
- Practice some of the spiritual disciplines to help with your formation. There are numerous spiritual disciplines available and various resources that might be helpful getting a better handle on this. However, two very important disciplines are prayer and Scripture reading.
- Invest in your family – even if they are grown. There is something life-giving about serving one’s family.
- Be aware of your own emotional maturity. Some of us carry baggage from the past into our marriages and the church. Many people have sought professional counseling and have received tremendous help. Grappling with these issues can take time, but will ultimately bless your relationship with your spouse and children.
- Be a good steward of your body. My entire being is impacted by exhaustion, and a lack of sleep. This, coupled with little exercise, is a recipe for fatigue and lethargy. Ignoring my physical body impacts the rest of my being.
We don’t all live forever, of course. However, I would like to stay vibrant as long as I am alive physically. So much of this has to do with intentional decisions that you make today.