A long life would be nice. I would most certainly enjoy it.

But I have no interest in making safe arrival at old age my goal. For though the two are not mutually exclusive, what is to be gained from length of life trumping expanse of spirit? What value is height without depth?

I am no thrill-seeker; quite the opposite. And indeed, much of significance is built tediously, in the mundane. Yet as I am given this gift of life – with its joy and its sorrow – may it be lived at full extension: breadth of heart, of mind, of spirit, of courage, of passion, of kindness, and of love.

No, not safety. The goal instead becomes a life of obedience: imitation of Christ, defying doubt, shaking off stumbles.

And if in living such a life I should miss out on the golden years, celebrate with me for I will not be disappointed to have graduated.

And so, I press on…

~ Philippians 3:13-14 ~
… but I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.