If I Had it to Do Over Again…

Rev. Tony Campolo once wrote about a sociological study in which fifty people over the age of ninety-five were asked one question: “If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?” It was an open-ended question, and he received a wide variety of answers. However, three answers consistently reemerged and dominated the results of the study. These three answers were:

If I had it to do over again, I would reflect more.
If I had it to do over again, I would risk more.
If I had it to do over again, I would do more things that would live on after I am dead.

That’s interesting, isn’t it? As you think back over your life, I hope you don’t have too many regrets. If we are open to God’s healing grace, and if we are willing to do some reflection, many of our past experiences can ultimately lead us to be more compassionate, generous, faithful and loving human beings.

Looking forward, as long we can sit up and take nourishment, it is never too late to reflect a little more, to risk a little more, and to do a few things that will live on after we die.

As we sit on the edge of this new year, I do hope you will spend some time in reflection. I wonder where God may be asking you to step out in faith and to make an impact.

Let us pray: O God of ages past, O God of years to come, we thank you for your faithfulness to us throughout the journey of life. We thank you for the experiences we have had in life and for your ever redeeming grace. Help us today to hear from you. Open our hearts to any new opportunities you might have in store for us. Empower us to live and give fully. We ask in Christs’ name. Amen.