A friend sent me a message this morning on Facebook:"crazy as this seems, my daily devotional this a.m. was from Luke 6:38 which, again, is God talking right to me..."Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back- given with a bonus and a blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. generosity begets generosity."
I responded:
Makes perfect since doesn't it? Nothing can possibly be more rewarding then feeling we are useful, and nothing can feel more useful then providing a service and fulfilling a need for another person.
I concluded:
The two most dangerous days in each of our lives, are said to be the day we are born and the day we retire! Birth due to infant mortality in this country; and retirement due to the fact that those who do it, on average, take 7+ years off the length of their life; when compared to those who NEVER retire.
Point being - when we don't see ourselves as useful, we loose our spirit, our life, our meaning.
This particular speech was compelling to me, pertaining to the things that give folks meaning and inspiration in life: Dan Buettner - Living past 100yrs
Point being - when we don't see ourselves as useful, we loose our spirit, our life, our meaning.
This particular speech was compelling to me, pertaining to the things that give folks meaning and inspiration in life: Dan Buettner - Living past 100yrs
If asked, Why do you get up in the morning? - what is your immediate reaction?
I watched another speech recently, which asked the question, "What counts?" The speaker asked the audience to consider what it was that they counted in their own live as a measure of value to them?
He pointed out one of the most common standards of measure used in this and many other countries, which is used to determine a countries current "success", the GPD, or Gross Domestic Product. In this particular medium of measuring our countries success, many tangible figures are measured and a total calculation is made.
He pointed out one of the most common standards of measure used in this and many other countries, which is used to determine a countries current "success", the GPD, or Gross Domestic Product. In this particular medium of measuring our countries success, many tangible figures are measured and a total calculation is made.
GDP = private consumption + gross investment + government spending + (exports − imports), orGDP = C + Inv + G + (eX - i)
However, none of the "intangibles" of life, American living, happiness or any other non-tangibles areas of "successful" living are ever considered and measured.
Shouldn't some of the following items be considered more important than the measurements offered by mediums such as a GDP's measure of success? Items such as the following were suggested in that recent speech I watched:
- The health of our Children
- The quality of their education
- Joy of their play
- Beauty of our Poetry
- Strength of our marriages
- intelligence of our public debates
- integrity of our public officials
- Out Wit
- Our courage
- Our Wisdom
- Our Learning
- Our Compassion (I'll add: Humility and respect of others)
- Our Devotion
I'll add...
What would you add to this list?
- Our Generosity
- Our community involvement
- Our Architecture
- Our ability to build city's that connect us to our lives rather than "zone" us into divisions
What would you add to this list?
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