Reflecting on the truth that death will terminate my earthly life, I ask the question as to what is my vocation or calling in the final years of my earthly life. A few years ago there was a movie, Bucket List that was sort of focused on this. It was about two men who had received terminal diagnosis and they prepared what they called bucket lists of the things they wanted to do before they died. Fortunately for the sake of the movie, they had a disease that did not cripple them and they had the monetary resources to do anything that they wanted. While I am both physically healthy and financially comfortable at the moment, there aren’t a lot of adventures that I want to have before I die. I’ve had a very satisfying life and been able to do most of what I wanted.
What I want to examine is what I want to “BE” during this final phase of my life. And, from a faith perspective, what does God have in mind or what is my calling in what I am calling this final phase of my life. I realize there may be several scenes in this last phase, but how do I prepare in a healthy way for a phase that will be less about “doing” and more about “being.” What comes to mind at this moment has more to do with relationships than production. But at least a portion of that relationship challenge is my relationship to myself. I think that there are aspects to my relation with myself that I have neglected over the years because there was so much to do.
I know I am rambling but I hope that you too, regardless of your age or condition, will reflect on what is your calling at such a phase of life.
