Recalibrate Your Lifeਨਮੂਨਾ

A Crisis of Mortality

So often, life carries us along in its current. Before we know it, we’re at “midlife”—and time only speeds up from there.

For years, people have referred to a “midlife crisis” that tends to hit around our mid-forties or a little later. In the 1990s, scholars developed a different philosophy, known as the U-shaped happiness curve.

Whatever you call it, no one denies that there comes a time—or times—when the brevity of life hits you. The death of a loved one. A cancer or other serious health diagnosis. Or just a sudden sense that your life’s work doesn’t feel as meaningful anymore. I like to call this the universal “crisis of mortality.”

Whether it happens gradually or suddenly, we can respond to this crisis in several ways.

First, we can deny our mortality. Second, we can try to escape our mortality, by distracting ourselves or feigning indifference. In either case, reality eventually catches up to us. The aging process reveals our tactics for what they are.

There’s a third, better way: pursuit of godly wisdom and spiritual maturity. In this case, we accept reality, but instead of denial or escapism, we grow in hope for our eternal home—and, as Moses calls for in Psalm 90, we “number our days” still on earth.

Numbering our days means we see our lives more from God’s standpoint—the vantage point of eternity. As a result, we examine and adjust our priorities. We treasure that which endures over that which is passing away. We spend our time on what God values rather than investing in what will garner human approval and praise. When all of this happens, we are on the road to living and finishing well.

Recalibrating to Finish Well

So often, people desire to finish well and leave a godly legacy, but they don’t quite know how to get there. I (Ken) developed the idea of “recalibrating” as a process for navigating through life’s various stages and transitions, with the ultimate goal of finishing well. In this Bible reading plan, I’ll share some of the tools and concepts that are part of this process.

First, let’s define what we mean by recalibrating. Recalibration means consciously processing, with God’s help:

• Where you have been (the backward look)
• Where you are now (the upward and inward look)
• Where you are headed (the forward look)

It’s particularly important to recalibrate around times of change and transition. For example, maybe you recently retired (or are about to), got married, had your first child, got divorced, changed jobs/careers, moved, or lost a loved one.

Changes like these may be expected or unexpected, welcome or not. Whatever they are, such changes can propel us to new heights in our walks with God—or sink us.

It’s not so much the nature of a change or transition, as our response to it, that matters most.

The 4 Looks: Backward, Upward, Inward, Forward

What’s one recent or coming change or transition in your life? What “scenery” has changed or will soon change in the passing landscape of your life?

To navigate or prepare for that change, take a moment to recalibrate using this outline:

• Backward look: What happened (or is happening)? What led to this point? What has changed (or what do you expect to change)?
• Upward look: Go before the Lord, who never changes (Hebrews 13:8). Ask for humility and openness to see the change or transition from His perspective and to move forward with His wisdom.
• Inward look: Honestly assess yourself in light of this change or transition. How is it affecting you and your outlook? What are your anxieties and fears? What are your hopes or aspirations?
• Forward look? How can you move forward with a godly perspective on this transition? Are there specific actions to take? People to talk to? People who may pray for you or join you in fellowship (if they’re in a similar situation)?

The above outline can be useful for recalibrating your life even in small ways. The “4 looks” can help you live each day with intentionality, purpose, and hope in the One who has ordained each day, hour, and minute of your life. You can also use the “backward, upward, inward, and forward look” outline at the start or end of:

• A year (school, calendar, or fiscal)
• Day, week, or month
• A decade (upon a milestone birthday—like when turning 30, 40, 50, 60, and so on)