Both sides of my birth family were blessed with natural longevity, at least those who survived the war in Europe.  My mother lived to be 88; her sister and brother  almost into their 90’s. My father as I may have written before was an alert and loquacious 104 when he passed away. Though he was the oldest of five, he  outlived all of them who were at least octogenarians. When I tell people about my mother and dad, they’re invariably astounded and wish me the same long life. A  research group was  interested in finding out why my father lived such a long life. They were curious about his health habits, his genetics and his life attitudes.  They never actually came  to interview Pop but my husband Dan  had an answer.  “He has a reason to get up every morning. You have to have a reason to get out of bed every day.”

My father  never smoked, was never overweight and drank beer or wine very moderately. But for over thirty years after retiring from his job,   he went into his wood working shop  every day and worked on one of his many projects. The only exception was on Sundays, what he called Feirtag, the day of rest from labor.  My father was what is known in his profession as a Holzwurm, a “wood worm”, one who is as passionate about wood as avid gardeners are about plants. It wasn’t easy for my mother who often complained about the sawdust he constantly trailed into her German clean living room and kitchen.  During one of my visits, my parents and I went to a botanical garden. While Mom and I admired the beautiful flowers gardens, Pop stopped at every tree to extoll their  wondrous qualities, mentally  putting them under saw and  chisel at home.  As my father aged  well past the time he should have been using power machinery, as his eyesight failed and his hands became more arthritic,  and especially after my mother passed on, he  stayed in bed longer in the morning. However, eventually after his breakfast he’d still  go  to his workshop to putter. Unlike many retirees who lose their purposes in life,  my father never lost  his passion and  created beautiful, museum worthy inlay pieces which he gave away to us. It is our inheritance which we pass on to children  and they to theirs.

We live in a different world than our parents did. Some days it’s a monumental  effort to face the day. I am not alone. The world I knew is spinning like a dervish whirlwind in the desert. Families are in turmoil. We’re being forced into making hard choices not under our control. Language has become a weapon. The news is disastrous to our souls.  Depression and suicide are alarmingly on the rise in this culture of death and deception.  Honestly, I  feel battered in my Christian walk while the devil whispers, “ “Give it up. It’s all over. What is the reason to get out of bed? ”   

Like the psalmist, we cry out to God. Have you forgotten us?

I recall a  childhood catechism lesson.  Question: “Why did God make me? “Answer: “God made me to know, love and serve Him. “ It echoes God’s Word to the Hebrews in the Old Testament.

…that you may love the LORD your God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him. For He is your life… Deuteronomy 30:20

The simplicity is astounding and more profound than a library filled with theology. We’re  here on planet earth to know God first and then to serve Him.  We’re alive so as to be in intimate relationship with the Father,  to abide in love with Jesus as Lord an Savior and to be empowered by Holy Spirit in serving others.  God  is the God of the living, not  of dead things  so as long as we have breath,  He calls us to life in His Son.

‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’Acts 17:28

Should this not be the most exciting reason in all the universe(s) to wake up with hope every day, no matter what?  To jump out of bed grateful for another day to know God? We’re the sentient offspring of the Almighty! It’s not the profession, the job we once had, our artistic passions or even the  ministry which  causes us to come awake.

Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:14

The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind. Job 12:10

 Spending time with the Lord in His secret workshop, learning how to create beauty, peace, joy and love with Him, through Him and in Him – this is the true reason for my raison d’etre – and yours.