Life's Expectations

Met with some friends recently we had not seen for some time. It was a typical reunion with lots of back-and-forth questions.

Now that you’ve downsized, how do you like your “tiny” house? Do your kids and grandkids call you? How was your Christmas holiday?

When I retired from full time ministry and my wife from full-time teaching, we made a decision to simplify lives and buy a smaller, more manageable house. As we age one must face realties … houses do not get easier to manage. The house-hunting objective became no monster two-storied homes, small yards, and low maintenance.

Too many people I know opt to fulfill unachieved life expectations by buying the dream home they never owned (which is typically oversized). They justify the purchase on the premise that family and kids will have a place to stay when they visit. Alas, that does not easily happen with 50-hour work-weeks, minimal vacation time, and tight available funds for airline tickets.

So what’s a family to do if you want to maintain communications? Sitting by your phone waiting for a call from loved ones is not realistic. You may be waiting a long time!

The answer is simple. Learn how to text. Try Skyping. Get on Facebook. Send a friend request to your grandkids. They may ignore their parent's “friends” request, but they are more apt to accept a grandparent especially if they want their next birthday present. They will “lol” at all of our mistakes and continuous “geek-squad” questions.

Most important, do not focus solely on your life expectations. It’s okay to yearn for the better things of life, but let’s not forget what life is all about _ it is Christ being proclaimed.

In Philippians 1:18 – 20, the apostle Paul sums it up.

Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Robert Parlante
January 2016