Soaking Up Life Like A&J
I went to a funeral this weekend and it got me thinking about what it takes to live a life that you don’t regret at the end. I thought about my friends Anthony and Joy.
They are a pretty good example of people who are soaking up life. I’ve never asked them to verify my theory, but I’d say there are three, yeah, four attitudes that he and his wife use to approach life that make them a good example of living life well:
- Generosity- He and his wife are mega-generous. God likes that, and when you start living that way you tap into a power circuit that leads to favor in myriad areas of your life.
- Teachability – They always wants to find areas they can improve. Anthony even asks people to point out his blind spots. He’s open to correction and always willing to consider that he may be wrong.
- They seize opportunities –They are stationed in Japan and love it, but they are rarely there. Rather than complain about being sent all over the place for the military Anthony actually decided he loves it. So, with his wife’s support he even signs up for missions.
That willingness has taken him all over Europe, Africa and Asia this year alone. Feel sorry for his wife? Well, I’m sure it’s hard for her, but when he’s gone she packs up and travels too. Rather than sit around and pout that her husband isn’t there she goes and explores the world. That’s just cool if you ask me.
I hope Anthony and Joy don’t mind me writing this, but when I look at folks like them it makes me really want to soak up every ounce of life that I can.
Oh yea, I forgot the fourth one. He and his wife are constantly striving to improve on what they have to offer for God’s service. Anthony is working on his second Master’s Degree. His wife speaks Chinese and is learning Japanese.
Feeling discouraged about your life now? You don’t need to. You can get moving today. Live a life where you can repeat the words of the Apostle Paul just before you go Home:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Tim.4:7)
Joël Malm 
Well said. I love your weekly emails! Interestingly I live in ABQ and see that you are/where in town for the Ballon Fiesta, I find that very cool
Yes! We were at the Balloon Fiesta. IT WAS AWESOME! I loved it!
Ahhh thanks Joel 🙂 we are just living life though – and feel very blessed by the awesome opportunities we have had!
But – you are right on several aspects, you can be given oppotunities, many people have far more than they know. There is a difference in having the opportunity and seeing it and seizing it though. We have had many good examples in all of those things you mentioned. We a generous because people (very much Summit Church while I was in China!) were generous with us. The same with the other aspects – I would say we both had excellent examples of what life could be like and those have helped us become who we are today. So maybe a fifth in there would be identify good role models and learn from them.