“Life is what goes on while you are making other plans.” In this day of the internet quoting everyone from Barney Rubble to Henry Kissinger on a subject, I can’t be sure who really said this, but it is most often attributed to John Lennon. Even though my theology is far off from what his beliefs were, I can find a common bond in this human journey with him on the statement.
Looking back at where I have been, where I thought I would be, and where I am now, my dreams and aspirations have differed in many areas than where life has led me currently. We all have different life experiences and we all can learn from others and teach them from ours. We all have a story, we all have been through incredible change and circumstances beyond our control, but we all can share our stories to help others.
I personally believe my patchwork of life to this point and from this point forward have been laid out for me by Divine Providence; others would feel their life is structured by just dumb luck, Karma, coincidence or destiny. Either way a person feels, we can help others in their struggles with life through sharing our life experience with them. Sharing of our life experience can provide us with hope for the future.
We can help spread this hope by passing along our successes and failures to the younger generation. Feel free to share with those younger at your work and in your lives of what has worked in your life and don’t be shy to share those things which have failed. Let them know why you tried things that didn’t work out well and let them know that you lived through it and it has made you part of who you are today. Let them know where you have succeeded and don’t forget to give the accolades to those along the way who were there to cheer you along and assist you in your victories.
Hope for our own future can be given to us when we share our story with others. Sometimes, framing our past to others allows us to look backward and see just why things happened the way they did or realize just why things are as they are now. Jokingly, I have always said that I have 20/20 theological hindsight. Looking back at my life I realize many instances now where if things would have gone as I thought they should or as I wish they would have, my life would be drastically different than it is now. Recognizing that, I get an assurance and hope that my future will work for the best because I truly believe I am not in charge of it. (And I am glad not to have that responsibility!)
Hope can also be gained for the future when we share our story because we can have the ability to change the world one person at a time. We all have the potential to reach and affect those around us each and every day. Whether we choose to help or harm is up to us. Sharing with others in our life experience can help others through their struggles and in turn they may be able to assist people that they come in contact with. I have a challenge for anyone willing to take it….The next time you are paying at a drive-through window, pay for the person’s order behind you. You will never know just how much you might change that person’s day.
So, how do we share our story? Paraphrased, St. Francis of Assisi stated that we should preach constantly, and if necessary, we should use words. Whether you believe in the theological portion of that statement or not, it speaks volumes as to human behavior and observation. We best share our life story by how we live. We can say all we want, we can share all the stories that we can dream up, but if we don’t live a life that people want to emulate or want to be around, our words are hollow. Live so that people want to know your story, share your story, and change the whole world one person at a time.