Everyone has a story. What’s YOUR story?
It shocked me to find out that the guy I chat with every morning at the coffee shop worked on the set of the original Hawaii Five-O TV show. He told me he looked a lot like the star of the show Jack Lord and doubled for him on several occasions. I had no idea. I was skeptical until he showed me this picture taken in 1974…
That chance encounter reminded me that every person has a story: including you. What’s your story?
As we grow older, we tend to think our story is pretty much written. The plot is in place and there are many more chapters written than unwritten. Too many of us have laid down the pen, or pushed away from the keyboard, and have decided to let the end of the story write itself.
Don’t give into this temptation.
Regardless of what you see as you look at your story, you still have the power to write the ending. The last chapter of your story has not yet been written. And I’m convinced, if you kick back now and let the end of the story write itself, the ending will not be good. Why would you take your hands off of the steering wheel as you enter the last curve of the race?
Think about the great novels you’ve read. It is the ending which determines whether it’s a great novel or a mediocre one. The greatness of the novel is found in the greatness of the ending.
Perhaps until this point you’ve lived a mediocre life. Maybe you’ve had more failures than successes. You might even admit that your life has been a disappointment. But guess what? The last chapter has not yet been written. (Check out my encouraging article about creating the future.)
It’s these ending chapters of your story which will determine the greatness of your life. It’s this chapter of life which will determine how you will be remembered.
Stop and answer this question: What does your story say? If you aren’t happy with the answer, and most of us aren’t, start writing the ending which will turn your story into a good one.
When my son was young he read many books in a series called, Choose Your Own Adventure. The end of each book depended on the choices you made as the story unfolded.
Here’s my challenge to you: choose your own adventure.
It’s your story, not mine. Make it a good one.
I have now written 81-1/2 prayer journals. I guess if one read them, which would be exhausting, they would know my story. Also, now I have two devotional books under my belt, the second in the process of publication. No matter who you are, I think it’s wonderful to write down your story, even if you are the only one to ever read it. “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior, all the day long…”
Thanks Jeannie for sharing!
Randy, if God has a plan for each of our lives, and He is in control of everything; then what makes the difference what we try to write? Won’t it all go like He has already pre-determined it would? Trying to write a better story from this stage in life on sounds all positive and nice, but for a lot of folks it just isn’t going to change anything. I’m glad for those who may realize some nice change in the direction of the story, but I am extremely skeptical of really being able to do much to change things, if the whole idea of God’s plan for our lives being the controlling factor is true.
Jeanne shared about her prayer journals, and said that she thought it was wonderful to write down your own story, even if you are the only one who reads it. Well, obviously I have lived my life, and I’m telling you, the last thing I want to do is re-read all the crap that has happened. I truly wish making the last stage of our aging life so wonderful was as easy as you sometimes make it sound. But I just have not found it to be that way; and believe me, I have tried desperately to take your advice and that of many other good Christian leaders and authors, to make things better. It just doesn’t seem to work out so sugary sweet and happy as some folks make it sound. I guess I’m just one of those “lost causes” kind of people. But, maybe that is what God’s plan is for me…I truly don’t know anymore.
Tim, I’m sorry for your confusion. But your stated approach to life neglects free will. God has given us the ability to choose. It is in the choosing where we can write a better ending to our life story. Choosing and doing the right things are never neat, clean, and easy. (This is why so many people sit back and let circumstances write the ending to their own story.) For example, your own words imply you are doing little to improve your life. That’s a choice you’ve made. I’m just saying you have the power to make decisions which, when acted upon, could improve your life. But, as I wrote in the article, it’s your life. It sounds like you’ve given up. But I want you to know I’ve not given up on you!
With all due respect Randy, you have no idea how many things I have done to try to change and improve my life, nor how hard I have tried and for how long. I did not choose to have all the things that happened to me to come along (nor does anyone else, I know); but I have tried desperately to seek God’s will in dealing with them in the most positive way I could. Like so many people, I have been knocked down and crushed and then gotten back up and fought with everything that was in me over and over again. All of that does not neglect free will, as you stated in your response. You saying that I’m doing little to improve my life implies that I haven’t tried or cared, and that simply is not the case. Apparently, you did not take note of the statement I made earlier that I had tried desperately to take your advice and that of other Christian leaders and authors. Giving up is one thing; accepting reality is another. Even the Marines have limits when they have fought with everything they had, but finally find themselves out of ammo, food, water, medical supplies, reinforcements, air support, and options. All things are possible with God, right? Well, I am very open to that concept; but I have done all I know to do. If that doesn’t meet the accepted criteria for being Re-fired, then I guess I’m just in big trouble, and a big disappointment. Sorry about that.