Journeying On

“What is the measure of a life well lived?”  These words have been rolling, tumbling, pacing, crashing around in my mind for the past few days.  I have a good deal of time to ponder and meditate on many things as I work around the church moving from place to place … setting up rooms, changing a light bulb, painting a door frame, inspecting a fire extinguisher, sweeping away cobwebs, changing out full vacuum bags.  But I digress… The question this song poses is a great one: “What is the measure of a life well lived?”  How would you answer this question?  The group that sings these words is called DOWNHERE.  The song is entitled, “Little is Much.”  (If you aren’t familiar with this group, I would commend them to you.)

I like the emphasis of their answer as they pose this great question in their song:

What is the measure of a life well lived?
If all I can offer seems too small to give…
This is a song for the weaker, the poorer
And so-called failures.

Little is much when God’s in it -
And no one can fathom the plans He holds.
Little is much when God’s in it -
He changes the world with the seeds we sow
Little is much, little is much…
Who feels tired and under-qualified?
Who feels deserted, and hung out to dry?
This is a song for the broken, the beat-up
And so-called losers.

Consider a Kingdom in the smallest seed…
Consider that giants fall to stones and slings…
Consider a child in a manger…
Consider the story isn’t over…
What can be done with what you still have?

Perhaps turning 41 and being unemployed for several months primed my heart for a song like this.  Perhaps it’s having 3 sons who are turning into men and beginning to ask important life questions that pricked my mind when those words first came through my ear buds.  Perhaps it is a desire like most people who breathe to want to know that our lives make a difference.  Perhaps it is just an inability to discern the finite plans of a fallen and fouled up man as the shadow of an infinite and sovereign God conceals what He is trying to see.  Whatever the reason, the question bears considering:  “What is the measure of a life well lived?”

My guess is that it is the measure by which all lives are measured… the life of Christ in us – the hope of glory.