When I hit “middle age” and was confronted with my own mortality and the realization that all of my dreams had not come true, I wished I had majored on the majors. It’s not that I have big regrets—it’s just that the passage of time has a way of showing you what is really important in life.

I think we all work to control the people and things in our lives that make us feel safe and happy… or we think they do. The older I get I realize that this isn’t true. Life, including mine, is fragile, unpredictable and not actually controllable.

Living a real life requires you to
1) work hard on your relationships and learn to trust people. They are more important than stuff, safety and success.
2) trust God and develop a real relationship with Him. He is the only unchangeable in our lives—no matter what. We can’t use him to get what we want, He just has to be what we want.

All this takes time, intention and focus. When I was young, I thought I had all the time in the world to do this. The short-term wants and feelings took precedence. I wish they hadn’t. I wish I had spent the time to learn, with maybe someone older who had the wisdom and know-how, how to be present with God and the people He put in my life.

I find I want to learn how to be immersed in the life transforming stories of Jesus and His Gospel, becoming part of those stories as they continue today. I want to listen to the stories of the people in my life and open myself up to be a serving (not controlling or taking) part of their lives.

Taking time to be present wherever, whenever and with whomever is critical. I want to learn to “be”, a human being, before “doing” whatever I think will make us safe, valuable and important.

Being present, now—at this moment, with God and His people will transform us into our very best selves—what we were created to be.