A Well-Lived Life

Like much of the world over the last few days, I’ve been watching the television news and focused on Rome. While I’m not Roman Catholic, I’ve deeply admired the life of Pope John Paul II.

This morning I read my local newspaper and the first several sentences struck me, “John Paul II, the voyager pope who helped conquer communism and transformed the papacy with charisma and vigor, died Saturday night after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease that became a lesson to the world in humble suffering. ‘Our most beloved Holy Father has returned to the house of the Father,’ Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, a senior Vatican official, told pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square.”

As I’ve watched the images of the Pope’s life, I’ve reflected on his deep spirituality and his commitment to Christ—yet also to reaching out to people and touching the crowd. He was uniquely the people’s pope.

The experience has made me reflect a bit on my own writing life and what sort of legacy I want to leave behind. Whether we know it or not, each of us are building this legacy one day at a time. Like each of us, I have many different aspects of my life—daily follower of Jesus, husband, father, editor, writer and teacher.

Whether I am reading my Bible and praying or writing a magazine article or a section in a book proposal or a chapter of a book, my personal aim is to create excellence and clear communication. I’ve tried to reflect this quality of excellence in my children’s books or my role as an acquisitions editor. Also I’m attempting to show excellence in my Right Writing News publication. This past week, another issue went out—over 20 pages of great how-to writing material. It’s only available to subscribers.  When you subscribe, the welcome message provides the link to my back issues—and the price is right—free.

No one knows the time of life in their hands. It’s fleeting and can end in an instant.  The actual details of our life is in the hands of God. How do we make our legacy a well-lived life? It’s one day at a time. One of the deepest spiritual men that I’ve had the opportunity to meet is Billy Graham.  About fourteen years ago, I worked several years for Mr. Graham. For many years, his daily focus has been making each action to please Jesus.  When he’s been interviewed on Larry King, Mr. Graham has said his desire is to hear the Lord one day say to him, “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into my rest.”

May each of us leave such a legacy with our writing life.