Living Into Your Future

The door was unlocked. I knocked and walked in. I had never been in the house before. It was clean. The wood throughout the house was crafted by artist. The stained glass windows, the plastered walls, the wainscoting made me think the house was at least a hundred years old. 

The man sat in his leather recliner covered by an old quilt. Turns out he has lived there all of his 72 years. His exterior was as rugged and strong as the aged bricks on the outside of the house. His hands were scarred from decades of work on the farm. His face was well-worn – the sun will do that over time.

He smiled. “My daughter said the preacher was young. I didn’t think you would be this young.” I smiled back and told him, “Your daughter said you were handsome. I didn’t think you would be this handsome.” We laughed. But, this wasn’t a social call. I would be doing his funeral in a few weeks. I wanted to get to know him, to listen to his stories, and to share about God’s grace.

Farmers are storytellers. It’s what they do. His stories were honest and raw. He talked about growing up, meeting his wife, getting married, the birth of his kids, the farm crisis of the early 80s, walking his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day, watching his wife die of the same disease that was killing him, his regrets, the things he never got to do, his favorite memories, his grandchildren, his love of the land, and his ultimate peace and contentment with what has happened and what was about to happen.

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. –Søren Kierkegaard 

We’ll all get there someday. Sitting in the chair with the warm, comfy quilt. Or at least somewhere similar. We’ll know the days behind us far outnumber the limited days in front of us. We’ll look back and have a decent understanding of what just happened. But, chances are, if you are reading this, you are not sitting in that chair. 

There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future. -Augustine of Hippo

You have a future. So do I. Some days it may be as clear as mud. Some days it may seem as distant as the moon. We don’t and we won’t understand the future. But we get to live it. Starting today. 

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. -Corrie Ten Boom

Our future is unknown. But, we are accepted, loved, healed, guided by a God who is known. When we are broken and busted living on a diet of blame and bitterness—God puts us back together and gives us faith and forgiveness. When we are fearful and anxious God calms us and gives a courage and company. When we are lost and looking for meaning God directs us and gives us purpose and passion.

Your unknown future starts with your next step. Understand and learn from your past. Embrace God’s faith and forgiveness. Be courageous. Spend your days loving what God loves most—yourself and others. Relentlessly chase your dreams and your calling with passion and purpose. At the end of your days you will look back and be grateful.

The best is yet to come…

Craig