It's My Life

I'm a die hard Bon Jovi fan! I will not tell you how much I paid for a ticket to see them in concert last year. One of my favorite songs by the group is entitled "It's My Life." That song was once my independence and freedom anthem. Now that I am a little older, I interpret the words a little differently. It's not so much an anthem declaring my independence and freedom as much as it is a sobering bottom line; it's my life and I only get one shot at it. There are no do overs!

One day, I was listening to my song while driving to a therapy session. I spent the last 11 years as an early intervention teacher of the hearing impaired. During that drive, my Dad posed three questions to me. They seem really simple but they provoked me to earnest and sincere reflection.

“Daughter,” he said, “Why do YOU want to live?” The first time he asked me that question, my answer was that I didn’t want anyone else to raise my children. I believed that I was the only one who could raise them in the ways that were best for them. Well, my children are now adults. In Philippians 1:23 Paul was reflecting on his life and desiring to go to heaven to be with Christ, which he felt was a much better place to be. However, in v.24 he concluded, “But for your sake it is better that I remain alive.” So, how do I answer this question today? For whose sake is it better that I remain alive? And I pose the same question to you. For whose sake, is it better that YOU remain alive? Who needs you to make a valuable impact in their lives? Who are the people that you need to zero in on and put more effort in sharing the life, love and power of Christ with?

The second question he asked was, “What really matters to YOU?” What are the things that pull on your heart strings? What is that thing that you consider to be “the greater cause” that is bigger than yourself? Is it starting a non-profit, mentoring, volunteering, or advocating for those who need a voice? I know that our lives are very full. We have no problem filling our time. But, is your life fulfilling? Ask the Father to lead you to where you can do the most good for others and fulfill the call to your greater cause.

The third question was “When are YOU going to step away from the shoreline of life and

Snorkeling in Key West in 2007

dive out into the deep waters?” I thought back to a snorkeling excursion that I went on in Key West in 2007. Standing on the shore, I looked out at the vastness of the ocean, and I decided just how far out I would safely venture. Then, I heard my Dad whisper these words, “You know that you will never see the glory of all my creation for you unless you come out into the deep.” He was so right! Out in the deep, I observed magnificent sea creatures and oceanic beauty that could not been experienced from close to the shoreline. And so it is with life. We have to be brave, step out into the deep and dare to experience all that God wants for us!

From the words of Jon Bon Jovi, "It's now or never. I ain’t gonna live forever. It's my life."

My response...

Dad, help me to live my life in such a way that I don't miss anything you want from me or for me. Help me to be brave when my heart wants to fear and draw back. Give me the burning desire to fulfill your call to the causes greater than myself.

In Jesus’ name

Amen

Credits to Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Max Martin songwriters of It's My Life, Crush album, May 2000

Philippians 1:23-24 International Standard Version