Today, I received an envelope of material from AARP in the mail.

I am now solidly in my 50s, and I guess that means I am starting the last chapter of my life. While I hope there are still lots of pages to write, I do have to be realistic about the number of my days.

In Acts chapter 20, the Apostle Paul speaks with the elders of the Church in Ephesus. There, he tells them something that will be the theme for this next phase of my life.

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24)

When my story is over, I want people to say that during my final chapter, it was clear that I aimed to complete my work of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. I dream that my final pages will be the best ones I have written. I have more time, money, knowledge, and experience than ever before. It would be a shame to waste it all on selfish pursuits of sun and fun. I want to be a tool used by Jesus until the day I meet him face to face.