My Story Your Glory - an Eight-Day Reading Plan by Matthew WestSample

Begin With the End

I read a book recently that encouraged the reader to write their own eulogy. A eulogy summarizes a person’s life, usually delivered or read after they pass away. At first, I thought, ‘what a depressing exercise!’ But I decided to give it a try anyway.

I quickly realized why this is such a powerful thing to do. As I thought about how I wanted to be remembered when I’m gone, the first things I wrote in my eulogy were not career accolades or successful financial investment portfolios. There was no mention of money or fame. Instead, I wrote about the most important things: my faith in God, my love of my family, and the ways I hoped to have impacted the world for the better.

The author of that book encouraged me to keep my self-written eulogy and read it routinely every morning. The idea is to start each day by remembering where you hope to be when you reach the end. Remember how you want to be remembered. Beginning each day with the end in mind can help us stay focused and on mission.

This makes me think of Paul’s words in 2nd Timothy chapter 4. He seems to have penned a bit of a first-person eulogy himself.

I want these words to be said about me, don’t you? To fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith. Begin your day with the end in mind. Ask God to give you a clear vision of the finish line of the race He is calling you to run. And seek His guidance every step of the way to stay focused and on mission. What do you hope will be said about you at the end of your race?

DO SOMETHING:

1. Take some time to write your own eulogy.
2. Read it back to yourself. What do you notice about what sort of things you prioritized?
3. What areas of your life need to change if you are to fight the good fight and finish your race well?