Bucket List

Recently I read a facebook post about a "Bucket List Challenge".  It was a list of 60 or so things that you could go through and check off what you've done so that you can compare yourself with others.

What was interesting to me was the list of items.  How does one decide what goes on the list?  And why should my list even resemble someone else's list?  Who cares if I ever bungee jump?  Certainly not me.  And there was nothing in the list about laying down the first set of tracks on the snowy trail-not something I ever wrote down on a to-do list, but it felt kind of special.

Some people think a cruise needs to go on a bucket list.  I'm a strong introvert with tendencies towards claustrophobia--why would I want to stick myself on a crowded boat for more than an hour or two?

I once survived a hailstorm above treeline with lightning coming down all around me.  Check that off my list.  Wait-don't even write that one down!

For sure, there are things I would like to see and do that I have not seen and done. Maybe they will happen, maybe they won't.  It's possible that we can get so consumed with checking off our list that we miss something even better.

Take, for example, the bat cave in Huai Yang.  Have you ever been there?  Is it on your list?  It's really quite interesting.  But does anyone even know where this place is? There are no signs that the cave even exists.  But if you go back to the karst hill behind the village Huai Yang (wherever that is) and walk over towards the ladder up to the Buddha statue, you will find it.  It's not you typical cave.  It's certainly not very spectacular, as caves go.  It's not even very big.  But there are a lot of bats in there--more than I would expect to see under this slab of limestone that fell of the mountain.  I never would have thought to put this cave on my list.  But I'm glad we were not in such a rush to get home one day that we said to ourselves, "let's go check out that hill over there" and drove down the narrow levee between the rice paddies to do so.

Maybe I'll get to Bryce Canyon.  Or maybe not.  Maybe I'll get to Kakadu National Park.  Or maybe not.  Maybe I'll get to the last two states I've not yet been to.  Or maybe not.  In the big scheme of things, none of this is really important.

The adventure is all around us.  Often we miss it, though, because we are looking for something else.  What I can do is hold hands with my wife as we do our next adventure together--whatever it is and wherever it is.

In Luke 10, There are two stories that illustrate how being consumed with a task can cause people to miss out on things.  In the first, The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), some religious leaders were able to check off their list that they kept themselves undefiled that day (by NOT helping the injured man), but then they missed out on doing what was important--helping the injured man. In the second (Mark 10:38-42), Martha was able to check some things off her list (made dinner, did the dishes) but missed out on what was important--spending time with Jesus.

It's not wrong to have a list of things you would like to do.  But if you check off everything on your list, and miss the important stuff, what benefit is it?

I must confess, I do have a bucket list--but it's a short one.  Only two items:

1. Be faithful to God for the rest of my life.
2. Be faithful to my wife for the rest of my life.

What's on your list?

Worn Pretty

In a recent post, I wrote about being worn out.

Lots of things are subject to wear and tear.  But wear and tear can have different affects on things.
Even things of the same nature can be differently affected by wear and tear.

The other day I was noticing some seashells.  Some seashells as they get old look just plain old.  Broken. Worn. Chipped.




On the other hand, aging and wearing down seems to enhance or bring out beauty hidden some shells.




About 30 years ago I made the observation that when people get old they seem to go one of two ways.  Some people get better with age.  Others just get bitter.

I determined that I would rather be one of those who gets better than bitter.  But I'm not totally sure I know how to do that.

Now, a few decades on, I can see how one can easily slip from the path to being better to the path of being bitter.

So how do I do it?  How do I become like one of those sea shells that gets more beautiful with time?

One one of the key ingredients that seemed apparent to me even back then is forgiveness.  If we don't learn to forgive, we will get bitter sooner rather than later.

Another characteristic of non-bitter people seems to be gratefulness.  They don't think the world owes them anything and they are grateful for what they have.  They don't compare what they have with what others have.

Another thing I notice about non-bitter people is that they are good listeners.  They are truly  interested in others and listen not with the intent of one-upping them but to really hear what they have to say.

There may be other things and perhaps some of those who are older than me could add to the list.

Jesus said: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." (Matthew 5:13 NIV)

We who believe in Jesus are supposed to be like salt to the earth-enhancing the quality of it.  If we get better as we age, we can continue to do so.  But if we get bitter, we become like salt without saltiness-just plain grit that scratches things and roughs things up.

Lord, help me to get better with age.  Help me to forgive those who have offended me.  Help me to be grateful and appreciative for what I have. Help me to really be interested in others.  Help me to hang onto my saltiness.