FINDING MY NICHE
(I Timothy 2:15)

Comedian George Burns used to sing a song entitled, "I Wish I were Eighteen Again."  I'd like to change that a little and make it, "If I were Eighteen Again."  Other words, What would I have done then, if I had known what I know now?  How would I find my niche early in life? 
An old adage says, "If youth could know and age could do; the world would be revolutionized."  Unfortunately, however, by the time we learn want to do, we're often too tired to do it; and by the time we learn how to life, we're often too old to live it.

Maybe we need a balance.  The experience of age and the initiative of youth; the caution of age and the courage of youth; the skepticism of age and the confidence of youth; the practicality of age and the idealism of youth.

Age has much to give.  But youth also has much to give.  The Scripture says, "Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?" (Job 12:12, niv). But it also says, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity" (I Tim. 4:12, niv). If we combine the riches of the past with the promise of the future, we'll understand the reality of the present.  Yesterday and tomorrow will make a better today. Maybe age and youth just need to listen to each other. 

If I were eighteen again, there are some things I would do:

I.  FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD AIM HIGH.

The sooner we decide we are going somewhere, the faster we'll arrive.  Failure is not a sin.  Aiming too low is!  Paul said, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Col. 3:2, niv).

All through the centuries, "reaching for the moon: has been a phrase used to describe man's most foolish and impossible dreams.  Well, on July 20, 1969, the impossible dream came true.  That first moon landing was not a triumph of technology alone.  It was a triumph of the spirit!  It was a triumph of mankind's faith.  The most important element of the first moon landing was man's discovery that seemingly impossible goals can be achieved if belief, desire and commitment are strong enough.

II.  SECOND, I WOULD PREPARE WELL.

Abraham Lincoln said, "I will study, I will get ready. Then, when opportunity knocks; when my chance comes, I can take advantage of it!"  Paul said, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Tim. 2:15, kjv).

The greatest builder of confidence is the ability to do at least one thing well.  So, learn to do at least one thing well.  The Boy Scout motto, "Be Prepared" is good advice.

III.  THIRD, I WOULD WORK HARD.

Solomon said, "He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment" (Prov. 12:11, niv).

In the early days of our country, when a clipper ship sailed out of a New England port for China or the Indies, the captain's relatives, friends and business acquaintances would include their ventures in the cargo.  Some send articles of merchandise to be traded.  Others sent silver dollars to be invested in silks and spices to be sold later on the home market.   That's where the familiar phrase, "I'm waiting for my ship to come in" originated.
These hardy Yankees didn't expect to reap a reward without an investment.  They knew they couldn't expect a ship to come, bringing them treasures unless they had ventured something on a ship that went out.

Life is like a clipper ship.  It will not bring back something to us unless we send something out.  We must venture our ideas, abilities, talents and energies.  Those who do not venture anything will wait on the dock in vain.  They will continue to scan the horizon for a ship that will never appear.

IV.  FOURTH, I WOULD CONCENTRATE MY ENERGIES.

Intense concentration is the secret of getting things done.  How does a person in our complex society respond to the unending deluge of requests for help?  Every cause and organization pleads fo our time and money.  Unfortunately, to attempt to meet all demands is to risk failing in all of them.  No one can effectively spread himself that thin!  If we try to do everything, we may actually achieve nothing.

What then shall we do?  Each of us should carefully consider our own particular talents, abilities, qualifications and interests.  Paul said, "Do not neglect your gift which was given you . . ." (I Tim. 4:14, niv).

We should limit our application to those areas where we feel we can do the most good.  In this way, instead of scattering our forces in many directions and not doing anything well, we will make our lives count by specializing in what we can do best.

You can't do everything!  You can't be everywhere!  So, concentrate your best powers where you can best serve.  This kind of stewardship makes the most of your unique potential.

V.  FINALLY, I WOULD REVERENCE LIFE.

Dr. Albert Schweitzer said, "The good man is the friend of all living things."
William James asked, "Is life worth living?"  Then he answered his own question.  "It all depends on the way we live it!" 

Paul said, God "gives all men life and breath and everything else" (Acts 17:25, niv).
There is an Eastern legend about a powerful genii wh o promised a maiden a gift of rare beauty on certain conditions.  She was to walk through a field of corn from beginning to end without stopping, going backwards or wandering around.  Her mission was to pick the largest and ripest ear she could find.  The value of the gift was to be in proportion to the size and perfection of the ear she chose.

The maiden started out with joy.  As she walked, she saw many ears worth gathering, but passed them all, hoping to find a larger and more perfect one.  Finally, she came to a section where the stalks grew stunted and inferior.  She passed these by, and, unfortunately, found herself at the end of the field without having gathered an ear of any kind.

Many of us go through life in the same way.  We fail to find what we want and we keep moving on.  We keep searching for perfection and overlook much that is worthwhile.  We are so intent on finding the best, th e we don't take advantage of the good and the better.  We pass by much that would make us happy, in our quest for the sublime.  Soon time runs out and we re left empty-handed.

Don't put off living until you have the perfect person, time, place or adventure.  If you do, you will never live. 

A participant in the 1936 Olympic games said, "The thing that impressed me most about the Olympics were the instructions given us by one of the starters.  Before we took our marks, he said, ‘Now boys, everyone is going to have a fair start in this race.  There will be no jumping the gun.  As you look down the track you will see that there are no barriers in your way, no handicaps.  When you leave the starting blocks and propel yourselves down the track, the man who hits the tape first wins.' "

This, to me is democracy, Christianity and life in their simplest forms–an equal start, the right to project yourself down the lane, with no artificial barriers in your way; you can go as far as you can on your own ability, regardless of race, color or creed.
An 85 year old man, who learned that he was dying said, "If I had my life to live over again, I'd climb more mountains; I'd swim more rivers; I'd watch more sunsets; I'd have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.

"Ninety per cent of what we worry about never happens, yet we go right on worrying about everything.  That's why insurance companies in America are the wealthiest companies of all."

The old man continued, "Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had it all to do over agin, I'd have more of those moments.  That's the stuff life is made of—only moments.  Don't miss the now!  Nothing is forever!  So, appreciate your loved ones.  Listen to y our special music!  Enjoy your best china, Use your fancy linen!  Wear your favorite clothes!"

Finally, the old man said, "If I had it all to do over again, I'd play with more children; I'd use my God-given talents; I'd make a difference!  But you see, I don't have the privilege of living my life over again, and neither do you."

None of us know precisely what is beyond; but we do know what is here!  This life is God's gift to you!  How you use your gift is your gift to God!  So, find your niche and fill it productively and joyfully.

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(Word Count 1526)
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This issue of NEW PERSPECTIVES  is from an unpublished manuscript © copyrighted 2005 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THEM IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.  The only thing we ask is that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works. 

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I have had excellent response to my offer to send books for postage only.  I have depleted my supply until I only have about 11 books I can share with you, but I will be happy to send you all the books we have available at this time.  All you need to do is reimburse me for the postage which comes to about $3.50 (which is the cost, the last time I mailed them).  Please wait until you receive  your books before remitting. 

Even though my stock of some books is rapidly becoming depleted. I have most of them on a CD which I will send with your order.  All I'll need is your Mailing Address and the Word Processing program you use.  (I use Word Perfect, but can also supply it in Microsoft Word or ASCII.). 

For those outside the US and Canada, the cost of mailing a CD would be a rather inexpensive way to get copies of our books.

I don't plan to have any more books printed, unless there is a demand for them.

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Miles E Wesner