Life has to transcend us. If it is just all about us – who we are, what we do and what we have, we will be men or women most miserable. It is a boring and unfulfilled life. When we are young it doesn’t seem this way. It is all about us. We want it all. We want to be somebody and so we set our efforts towards making that happen.
As time goes by we begin to look around and wonder if this is all there is to life. Is this it? We go to school and if we are lucky, especially in this environment, we might get a job. We go to work and come home and go to work and come home and go to … This seems like insanity. There have to be more. What might that be?
Right now, it seems like life is just one big spin. That is exactly what it is when we do not have more to live for. There is no fulfillment when we live this way. There has to be more. How do we find what more is?
I believe if we can place these three lenses in their appropriate position, we can experience a more fulfilled life.
The three lenses are:
- The “In front of us” lens
- The “behind us” lens
- The “Beside us” lens
The lens in front of us allows us to see the future – the possible legacy we can leave behind; how we can influence the future. It helps us keep life in its proper perspective. We are here on earth for a short period of time. We will not live forever.
The lens behind us helps us to see who is coming behind us to replace us. Can we identify someone who will continue what we have worked so hard to establish? If we can, we could mentor and help shape them so that they will be adequately prepared to continue what we have begun.
The lens beside us will help us to see what’s around us in making this become a reality. How can we leverage our strengths and other resources to make sure this happens? Do we invest in those behind us? Do we put in place something for them when they become of age? This lens helps us to look for those ways.
David did that for his son Solomon. Here is what he did:
David said, “My son Solomon is still young and inexperienced. And since the Temple to be built for the Lord must be a magnificent structure, famous and glorious throughout the world, I will begin making preparations for it now.” So David collected vast amounts of building materials before his death. (1 Chronicles 22:5 NLT)
What was before David? His legacy, mortality and the building of the temple.
What was behind him? His son Solomon.
What was around him? The resources to build the temple.
David used these three lenses and it made a difference. History confirms it.
Which of the lenses will you be using first and why? Leave a comment below.
July 18, 2013
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