For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:36 (NKJV)

I saw a bumper sticker once that said, “He who dies with the most toys, wins.” How sad that a life can be summed up by how much “stuff” they leave behind when they die.

Several years ago a best selling book consisted entirely of a compilation of answers people gave to the following question: "How would you sum up your life in six words or less?" 

The columnist writing the review came up with his own six word summation: “Dad was Santa. Downhill from there.” 

I asked my husband, Bob, to sum up his life in six words or less. He thought about it briefly before answering, "Life is tough. Couldn't be happier." Awww, no wonder I’m so crazy about him.

The more I thought about Bob’s answer the more I realized how spot on he was. He gets it! Like the apostle Paul said in Phil. 4:11: "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

A Christian’s life isn’t defined by material success, but rather by how much we love God and love people. Since reading the article, six words or less summations from the Bible have jumped out at me. Inspired nuggets of wisdom that are meant to help us live a life full of contentment, meaning and purpose.

Just a small sampling include—“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6) “Give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). “Forgive others as Christ forgave you.” (Matthew 6:14) “Judge not, lest you be judged.“ (Matthew 7:1). “Set your mind on things above.” (Colossians 3:2) “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) “His mercies are new every morning.” (Lamentations 3:23) “You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24) “With God, all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27) "Love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8)

A six word summation of today's generation might well be, "Let's entertain ourselves at all costs." What a stark contrast to the precepts the Bible has laid down for us! I want my own six word summation to be: “Living to please God, not people.” I want to strive to follow the Bible’s wise words and in doing so bring others to believe in Him and win the biggest jackpot of all—eternal life with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

“Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

Navigational tools have made paper maps almost obsolete. Relics to be framed and hung on walls. Finding a place is as easy as tapping the correct address into our devices, sitting back and listening to the lady tell us exactly when and where to turn, and ta-da—we arrive at our destination. Although I do remember one occasion when the “lady” led me on a wild goose chase and I ended up on a road nowhere near my intended destination. I was shocked! She’d never failed me before! Maybe I hadn’t listened closely enough—but no, I was sure I’d hadn't heard her say anything about “calculating a reroute.”

As a flight attendant, “reroute” is a dreaded word. Just when you think you’re on your way to a warm Miami layover, crew scheduling calls and (likely due to some weather issues) you’re informed you’ve been rerouted and will now be laying over in Fargo. After all, airlines aren’t concerned about getting their flight attendants to their nice layovers but rather ensuring that our passengers get to their paid destinations. Of course, the crew enjoying YOUR layover in Miami rather than THEIR own in Fargo—well, their reroute was a bonanza.

Several years after we decided we weren’t going to have any more children, God arranged a reroute that would stretch us physically, emotionally and spiritually. I became pregnant with our son, Brett, who was born with severe disabilities. 

After his birth I tormented myself with the thought that Brett might be my punishment for making one too many wrong turns. Was he born the way he was because I’d drowned out the still, small voice of the Spirit who had continually prodded me to calculate a reroute? That I'd stubbornly  stayed on the route I thought would make me happiest? Willfully choosing wrong turns rather than trusting and obeying the perfect navigational tool of His word? His voice to "continue on the route" becoming so quiet that soon I couldn't hear it all and become hopelessly lost in despair and guilt.

I remember telling my mom I thought Brett might be my punishment—that I didn’t deserve a healthy baby. I’ll never forget her response, “My goodness! If it was about deserving, no one would have a healthy baby.”

Now I look back and realize how wrong I’d been to think of Brett as a punishment. Today I see him as a special gift with a unique purpose. I take comfort in knowing Brett is God’s perfect plan for us— he is not the result of a “wrong turn.” As we “continue on the route” to our final destination, I know God will supply us with everything we need. I can trust Him to navigate us through the physical, emotional and spiritual trials we will continue to encounter along the journey. And when we are finally Home, we will discover that all our troubles were “achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)