Live Long and Prosper

Some of you will recognize immediately the phrase I have used as a title this morning. It comes from a standard greeting used by Vulcans, especially Mr. Spock, in Star Trek. I couldn’t help but be reminded of this as I began to ponder the many things that could be in the future for Faith and Logan. Tom Heyman, in his book, In an Average Lifetime, writes that the average American spends: 3 years in business meetings, 13 years watching TV, $89,281 on food, consumes 109,354 pounds of food, makes 1811 trips to McDonalds, spends $6881 in vending machines, eats 35,138 cookies and 1483 pounds of candy, catches 304 colds, is involved in 6 motor vehicle accidents, is hospitalized 8 times (men) or 12 times (women), and spends 24 years sleeping. All of this and much more in the average life span of 71 years! While that span of years is nearly double that of anyone born at the end of the 18th century, and there have been some who have lived well beyond that age, the measure of a person’s life is not best made in numerical years. “Live long and prosper” must take into account so much more than that! Listen to the words of Jesus: Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. (Matthew 16:24-27 ESV). Here are a few suggestions if you want to live long and prosper. First, take control of your life. By that I mean change the things that may be changed and accept those that cannot. Second, stop worrying. Easier said than done, but essential nevertheless. The quickest way to ease your worry is to practice faith. Believe the Lord for your past, present, and future. Third, eliminate stress. Obviously there is a certain level of stress necessary for normal life to continue. However, most of us are stressed so much that we cease to function at optimum levels and lose our joy in the process. The burdens we have accepted are far beyond our capacity. Fourth, talk positively to yourself. It is amazing how positive self-talk can increase self-esteem and self-confidence and thus create inner peace. I have noticed that most people are their own worst enemies. These and more are some of the things that I wish for my grandchildren. Can they possess these traits? Of course they can. Anyone can. There is no secret to possessing and practicing these positive attributes. Begin with faith in Christ; continue by following Him in all that you do. He will lead to you Live Long and Prosper!