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BOOK COMING SOON
The 3rd Third
Let me tell you why I’m writing this book.
I am now fully immersed in the 3rd third of life. Over 14 years ago, I was at the front door of my 3rd third. It began without my permission, as I sat before a cozy fire opening my snail mail. Peeking out from behind the water bill was an invitation to join AARP. There must have been some mistake! Tucked behind that flyer was another ad, pitching hearing aids. What could be next? Discounted dentures? Senior living options? A 2-for-1 sale on a mortuary plot? At 55, I knew I had reached the magic age to order off the back of the Denny’s menu, so I suppose it was inevitable. I had arrived.
If I was indeed heading toward the finish line, then I was determined to slow it all down. If possible, I would run this race with good intentions and “finish well”. I heard echoes of bible verses playing in my mind – usually words spoken at a memorial for a truly godly person — “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7). Then there are those words that help you remember you are truly not in charge of your life here. “You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14). Let’s don’t forget Ecclesiastes and man’s search for life’s meaning. The Preacher says, “Better is the end of a thing than it’s beginning…” (vs. 7 & 8)
So, I began to journal the journey. Now, 14 years later, with a few more years of personal insight and multiple stories of others, this book is ready to be written. The working title is: The 3rd Third — Finish Well Intentionally.
Full disclosure: I am not an expert, just a mostly-willing participant!
You may wonder how you missed reading the books about the 1st and 2nd third. Truth is, I didn’t write them! I was pre-occupied (overwhelmed) with learning about life in the first third and lost in the blur of the 2nd third. Not only was I way too busy to write those books, you were likely way too busy to read them! I trust your life, like mine, is finally becoming less hectic. As grown kids move out and your career draws to a close, retirement becomes a reality, for most. More significantly, the brevity of our life is a reality for all of us!
The daily alarm may not ring you awake anymore but the clock is still ticking. How will you use your minutes today? I trust this book will spark thoughts and conversation about what’s next and what’s important. Each minute of your life matters. It matters to your loved ones, and it definitely matters to God, so it must matter to you. His Word tells us to, “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” It takes careful thought. Be intentional.
That is why I’m writing this book. I’m right there with you, minding my minutes –
Tick, Tick, Tick.
NOTE: To be clear, this book is not about building a financial portfolio. It is about asking yourself some deeper questions – like “What’s next, what’s truly important to me and who am I, after-all?”