It's a Numbers Game

The years have come and gone - all 60 of them. Time rolls on with a relentless inevitability. The numbers start to add up.
I have served 4 Parishes in Australia, 1 in Ohio, and 7 in Michigan as an Interim Minister - 4 of those as a trained Intentional Interim. I have worked for 4 different denominations and lived in 5 different states in 2 countries.
I have been married twice to 2 very lovely women (for over 26 and just 10 years respectively) of 2 different nationalities, and therefore have 4 adult children (3 daughters and 1 step-son), 3 sons-in-law (a Yank, a Brit, and an Aussie); 2 grand-daughters and 2 grand-sons. I have had enough frequent flyer points to travel overseas twice on them and have enough now to make another trip.
I have owned 12 or so cars and 8 motorcycles on 2 different continents. I've been ordained for over 30 years but haven't kept count of the number of services and sermons and weddings, baptisms, and funerals I may have done.
The numbers certainly do add up.
But I guess the real question is, not how big the totals are but do they add up to anything? What is the sum of a life.
I enjoy conducting funerals because you get to present or hear of a person's life story. I reject the sentimental style of eulogy that does not give some numbers - birth, wedding, and death dates; when and where and what. Those details count.
Our worth is not really in the numbers, but for me how others - especially God - see me. The love of God in Christ Jesus, the love of my wife and family, and the friendships with others help me to see that my life adds up to something worthwhile.

Ron Cook
The Bloke