St. Matthew Lutheran Church- Rocklin, California

Do you remember the line from the song? “Number one is the loneliest number…” It’s true. We were not made to do life alone. Yet, at times, we feel so alone. It’s why Jesus came with the message of the cross.

Have you ever heard of a “mid-life crises?” What happens is that a person makes all kinds of (sometimes) crazy changes in their life because they are hit with their own mortality, that the time of their death is perhaps now closer than the years they have already lived. They are hit with the truth that everyday spent is one they will never get back….and they begin to wonder if what they are living for is worth the cost of each day given up to it… What does this mean for us as we look to “live our best life?” It’s our focus today. The gift of knowing that there is a life to be lived that is our best life and is worth the cost.

It’s called the “search for significance.” Simply put, we all want to make a difference. Knowing that we are is really a key to “living our best life.” This is the focus of Jesus today. It may not be what you think.

Multi-tasking. Did you know it’s a myth? Studies have now shown conclusively that a person can only do one thing at a time. And when we try to do more, these same studies show that our performance actually suffers and we do nothing well. So, what does this mean with respect to living our best life? It’s what we look at today.

What is that saying, “Perception is in the eye of the beholder?” So, if you want to perceive clearly, you first have to see clearly. Today we focus on how we see ourselves and others. It is a key to living our best life. The insight is given to us by Jesus.

The truth of the analogy here is striking. Like a car when the gas gauge is on the beg “E,” when one is on empty they won’t get far. Where are you on empty? Living your best life can only happen when you are “filled up.” It’s what we talk about today.

I took my daughter to school on the first day of her freshman year in High School. She was so excited as she shared with me everything she wanted to do and be involved in that year. Being concerned that she was setting herself up for disappointment, I gently suggested she would perhaps have to make some choices because it would be hard to do everything she wanted to do. I will never forget her answer. With great joy she said, “Daddy, I want to do it all!” Living your best life is doing – and having – it all. But what does this mean and what does it look like? This is our focus today.

Do you ever feel like you hit a “dead end” in your life? Or perhaps you see it in the lives of those around you?...or even beyond as you see the hurt and hopelessness in our world? It’s not true. Living your best life is knowing this and living in it.

Two things here. 1.They say it is insanity to keep doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. 2. Have you ever noticed how one just gives up after disappointment upon disappointment upon disappointment? Jesus came so we could “Live our best life.” He brings a new way. It is different from all the ways that have failed us. It is the one we can trust.

The Sign of the Star by St Matthew Rocklin