Drawing New Meaning from Life Experiences
Perspective on looking back at your life to see how it’s playing out, ways to grow old gracefully, Bible prophecies coming true, and 5 rules for joyful living.
How Is Your Life Playing Out?
There is much to learn about yourself and life as a whole when you look back at your life and consider how it’s playing out. To draw new meaning from your life experiences, consider documenting details about your special life, work, and career achievements, your accomplishments, the friends who have made a difference in your life, your faith journey, stories about your children, and the importance of your family to your life.
Of course, the very act of looking back will bring to mind things you might want to forget, such as the hard times you got through and the lessons learned from them, or mistakes made that you regret and find difficult to forgive yourself for. You’re also likely to recall things you wished you could have done that never happened—secret dreams, perhaps, still unrealized to date.
The good thing about the passage of time is that we all have the opportunity to reflect on the totality of our life at any time and look at it through older and wiser eyes that enable us to re-interpret what happened and why. I started doing this when I turned forty. The real surprise here may be that you will then see the positive byproducts of your actions at different stages of life. (See my January MUSINGS post about how journaling in 1977 helped me become a professional writer.)
Ways to Grow Old Gracefully
Many years ago, I stumbled on the writings of Benedictine nun Joan Chittiste, author of more than 50 books, one of which I put on my long list of books that looked interesting. It was The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully. I look back now and see that the title of this book prompted me to find my own ways to grow old gracefully. Perhaps the following excerpt from her book that I read that day might help you, as it did me:
“The secret of life is to let every segment of it produce its own yield at its own pace. Every period has something new to teach us: The harvest of youth is achievement; the harvest of middle age is perspective; the harvest of age is wisdom.”
Well into my old age, I’ve decided that wisdom boils down to knowing what to do with all the knowledge we’ve gained through formal education, self-study, and life experiences.
Bible Prophecies Coming True
I’ve been a student of Bible prophecy for nearly thirty years, and I have learned so much in the last few years from Christian authors, pastors, and other leaders who are connecting everything happening in the world today to what prophets like Isaiah foretold 2000 years ago (see Isaiah 5:20).
Have you wondered why there is so much evil in the world today? So much anger, rage, and violence? One of Billy Graham’s followers asked that question which he answered in part by quoting 2 Timothy 3:13: “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
Read Romans 1:28-32 for the whole explanation of why there is so much evil in the world today. For those that do not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, “God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.”
Many Christians, Bible teachers, and authors like Jonathan Cahn believe we are living in the last days of this age. Cahn’s latest book, The Dragon’s Prophecy, explains how the dragon—the devil—has been working through the ages to destroy Israel and rule the world in the last days. Named “one of the top 40 spiritual leaders of the last 40 years to have radically impacted the world,” Cahn is known for uncovering ancient mysteries in biblical texts while bringing forth stunning prophetic messages. His popularity among readers worldwide is unmatched. If you’re unfamiliar with all his best-selling books, this short September 2024 video will introduce you to him and tell you more about his latest blockbuster book.
5 Rules for Joyful Living
• Do what you say you’re going to do. This is the foundation of your personal and professional integrity. You’ll also like yourself better if you keep your promises to others.
• Do what needs to be done. If you can’t do it alone, ask others for help to accomplish specific tasks. I would not still be writing today without the help of many business friends and associates.
• Be careful what you let into your mind. Stop listening to ungodly people. These days, it doesn’t take much to kill one’s inner joy and peace of mind.
• Ask God for wisdom about everything you need to do (James 1:5-6). Pray that He will bless you by working all things together for your good and His purposes for your life (Rom. 8:28).
• Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and also love your neighbor as yourself. These first two commandments summarize the Ten Commandments God gave to the Israelites—which Jesus confirms in Matthew 22:37 that we must obey today to be in God’s will for our lives.
Treasure your happy memories, my friends. Be grateful for today’s blessings, and above all, pray for God's guidance in all your tomorrows.
First published as a Musings About Life post, February 2025.
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