Life's Purpose

Recently I read a book to Christian and Logan called "A Dog's Purpose" by W. Bruce Cameron. It is called "a Novel for Humans". Except for some "colorful" words that I do not think were necessary it is an excellent read, especially for dog "lovers"! One dog goes through years of reincarnating into different dogs, always remembering his previous life and adding to the knowledge and wisdom he is learning along the way. Through it all he is continues to look for his purpose in each particular "life"; whether just being a loyal friend to Ethan, or rescuing a little boy, Geoffrey, in a raging storm as a search and rescue dog, or protecting Jakob as a police dog. Yet the overarching theme is clearly "Life Has Purpose"! This dog named Toby, Bailey, Ellie, and finally Buddy learned in the end his life's purpose was to SAVE!
(I will definitely be locating the movie to watch with the boys even though I realize it will not have the depth and details found only in the book!)

This book is a good reminder that we all have at least one purpose in each stage of our lives; from children, through the teenage years, and on into college, career, singles, married without children and married with children. Finally on the downward slide through empty nesters to retirement and eventually landing in assisted living.

Our purposes are obviously as varied as there are people and are shaped by our spiritual outlook on life in general. As believers in Jesus Christ as our Savior our purposes should have eternal value. We are confident in the knowledge that Jesus' purpose was to glorify His Father in heaven and save sinner's souls for an eternity with Him. In view of that truth our "umbrella" life purpose under which all others should fall is to glorify God in all we do, all we say, all we think, all we are!

I don't know in which stage of life you currently find yourself.  I am grounded in the retirement stage, looking down the road at the still dim but fast approaching lights of "assisted living". What then is my purpose in this last stage of life? After carefully thinking about this question I believe God has opened my eyes to clearly see that my overall purpose is to share in love what wisdom He has and continues to give me with those in my growing family.  I love this truth from the Bible, the source of all truth and wisdom :
Psalm 107:2- "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.."
I need to share my spiritual story and then do as the Psalmist asks in Psalm 71:18-"Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come."
I am committed to being God's tool to demonstrate love, pray for, and encourage my family!

I challenge you other retirees to do the same. There is no better purpose in live than to pass on God's wisdom!

(Book two in this series is "A Dog's Journey," coming to theaters the middle of May, 2019. I am now excited to read that book to the boys before I return to the states and see where it, too, may apply to my spiritual journey.)