Where Are All The Godly Men - The Second Half

Dean Smith, legendary basketball coach of the North Carolina Tar-heels, once stated that the only reason to play the first half was to get to the second half. There is nothing more exciting in sports than the second half of a tight basketball game, and in particular, the last two minutes. At halftime, lessons from mistakes and positive play from the first half, are used to give the second half the most impact. We want to finish well,

For many men, we play the first half of life in order to get to the second half. The fifties is a time to pause and look back over our life as to where we have come, and to decide how we want to finish. Looking back to the first half, is useful only for the purpose of learning from our mistakes and capturing the victories to carry us forward in the second half. Just as in a basketball game, we cannot live on the first half, it is over. We take the mistakes and learn from them but never live with the "what if'" -  what if we had done this or had not done that. It is a time to take the past mistakes and move on with the "next time" -  the next time I will do this. We leave the mistakes behind and move on with the victories to carry us forward to the most fulfilling times of our life.

When we reach the fifties, some of those dreams we had in the first half are becoming a reality.  Statistics tell us that our greatest earnings from our work come in our fifties. It is not only a time of great financial rewards, but it is also great family times. Our relationship with our wives has bonded even closer and grandchildren are starting to join the clan. It is a time to hit the re-start button and to think about the legacy we may leave, or the opportunity we may have to make a more spiritual impact on our culture. It is a time once again to plan and direct our life in a positive direction to finish well.

When we were in our twenties, we thought those in their sixties were really old people. Now we are one of those old people, but it seems now to be so young. Retirement for many is a life long dream come true, but for others, it is a time to do it again. There is plenty of energy left and we still want to be a part of what is happening in the marketplace. Maybe it is to build another career or just stay active where we are. For others, it is a time to devote more energy to ministry. In any case, it can be a time to finish well. "They will still bare fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming,The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him" Psalm 92: 14,15

Tony Dungy in his book, QUITE STRENGTH, makes the following statement; " Winning the Super Bowl is not the ultimate victory. And once again, to make sure we are on the same page, it's not about football. It's about the journey- mine and yours - and the lives we can touch, the legacy we can leave, and the world we can change for the better -----

It was the thought of the journey and the way we persevered through it all, not giving up, staying the course". I don't know of a more appropriate statement for a Godly man. As much as the marketplace is involved in our life, our life is not about winning the most successful business award. In fact, it may not be about business at all, other than how we managed the opportunity God gave us, and how we used the marketplace to build God's Kingdom, and the lives we touched, and the world we changed. It may be more about families and how we grow together in Christ. 

I cannot think of a better position in life than to reach those latter years and to be sitting around the Thanksgiving table with all the family together. I am at the head of the table, and as I look around the table, I cannot help but be filled with pride and joy. This is my family and we have persevered through it all, not giving up. We stayed the course, and we are all a part of the Kingdom.     

"Here I am, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion." Isaiah 8:18