The “ONE THING” for April 19, 2012

A heartfelt “God bless!” to you today!

Earlier this morning Sonja showed me a picture of David Lee with his dog Chase.  Even through David Lee is not even three years old, he looked so old (relative term) – more like a seven or eight year old to me.  I remarked on this and mentioned that it won’t be long until he really will be seven or eight and then quickly twelve and thirteen and before you know it, eighteen and nineteen.  That’s when I was reminded that somewhere along that continuum – hopefully longer – I will be checking out; I’ll no longer be in the picture of David Lee’s life.

I don’t mean this conversation to be a downer for you today, but it illustrates the one thing that I want you to think about today: “Measure what matters.”I spend between 15 – 20 minutes every day updating a list of measurements that matter to me.  I number my days (how many are left until I’m 80), I keep up with certain dietary and exercise habits that are important if I hope to live until 80 and hopefully longer.  I measure my reading disciplines (if I hope to have my wits about me when I’m 80!), I measure several spiritual commitments (so that I’ll live forever in Heaven).  You get the picture…

Bottom line, measuring what matters in your life can be a huge benefit.  It gives a certain urgency to the important things in your life and keeps you focused on them.  Measuring what matters gives you a marker to show how you are doing and helps you adjust your priorities and be a wise steward of your very limited time here on planet earth.

Where to start?

Start by drawing an imaginary time line of minimally how long you hope to live and then each day knock another day off your lifespan; it’s amazing how that simple act helps make clear some very important habits you need to start focusing on and some harmful or wasteful habits you may need to start eliminating.

How about calculating how many more days are left until your children graduates from High School and ticking them off each day.  You’re be surprised at how few days there are.  I suspect that doing that every day for a few weeks will begin to change lifestyle choices and plans as well.

You get the picture…I’ll leave your particular “numbers” up to you; I simply encourage you to begin developing your “numbers list” and to studiously take time each day to update them.  Those marker will be vital tools for helping you to stay on the right path in life.

Traveling at the speed of time,

dlkemp

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.         Psalm 90:12