An Example of a Life Well Lived
I attended a memorial service for a friend over the weekend. This guy was a true man’s man, a great Christian example, and co-worker in the C12 Group. He fought a great fight against cancer on his way home, he finished his race and ran through the tape. The service was a real celebration of a life well-lived in the atmosphere of the mysterious mix of joy and sorrow that only Christians can understand. Yes, we know we will see him again, but dang it we will miss him!
During the seating of the guests and for a few minutes at the beginning of the service a series of pictures from his life were projected on a large screen in the front of the room. Dozens, maybe scores of pictures were chosen by those he loved and left behind to present the most important and memorable scenes and seasons of a remarkable life lived large. Watching them brought tears, laughter, and sometimes both at the same time. This was a great guy and a touching review of his life’s celebrations and values.
As I watched I was struck by the fact that, out of the tons of pictures that were selected, not one of them showed him at the office. Not that he didn’t have one, the man had an extraordinarily successful business career, and no doubt there could have been bunches of pictures of awards won, sales made, promotions gained, etc. from a professional perspective. But, in the retrospective view of his life they were pushed aside by pictures of family vacations, weddings, births, graduations, and grandchildren.
Each of his five sons-in-law wrote or spoke of their relationship with him, his closest friends shared precious memories from sports, fishing trips, ski vacations together, and work-related relationships, but no one mentioned degrees, or net worth, or worldly accomplishment, although they surely could have. But at this point all of those things had lost their meaning and had no real significance.
It will be the same for you and I. One split second after we take our final breath so many of the things that we think are important now will become totally unimportant to us or to those that we love most.
I’m so glad that I knew this man and also that I was a part of the celebration of his life. It was both an encouragement to me to press on and a reminder that, when our time comes, and it will, our lives and our legacy will be the sum total of the choices that we have made and the priorities that we have lived. Choices have consequences and how we will be remembered will be the reflection of the priorities that we have lived. “Priorities are what we DO, everything else is just talk.”
This man made lots of right choices. He wasn’t perfect, only One is, but he made lots of good choices. So…
- Have a daily quiet time with jesus
. - Go home early and hug you children’s mom.
- Don’t miss a game.
- Give when it hurts or until it does.
- Listen.
- Never skip a vacation to work.
- Delegate.
- Say “No” sometimes.
- Laugh at yourself – often.
- Remember if you can’t be happy with what you’ve got, you’ll never be happy with what you’re trying to get.
Press on! Run through the tape!
And Gene… well done! See you at home big guy!
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Buck Jacobs, Chairman and Founder of The C12 Group, LLC - Christian CEO and mentor. Buck has an extensive background in successful organizational development based on the principles found in scripture. The motto of the C12 group is "Building great companies for a greater purpose." 
As if you don’t make me cry enough in our talks, prayers, etc. now you have to do it on your blog! Great piece, Dad. I know many, many men who could learn from this. I may have to strategically place it!
Buck, powerful words, both gracious and challenging. I will use them to “stir strong men from their safe places” (a phrase borrowed from my friend, Ted Beckett). Gene is now more alive than ever and was no doubt present in spirit at his memorial service. Nothing would please him more than for Christ to be glorified, as you have done.
Buck,
I so appreciate your heart and your vulnerability to share with others. Thank you for loving Jesus and thank you for loving and caring for so many people, including my husband and my momma.