ALL THE EGGS IN ONE BASKET

If you have never had the joy of collecting eggs from the hen house, you have missed a treat.  Some of the chickens have already left the nest and you are free to take their leavings.  Some of the chickens are highly protective of their eggs and you are in for a pecking when you try to remove them from underneath.  My experience with collecting eggs was placing them in a basket to carry in and be washed. (think about it--those eggs are not so clean after the chicken lays them in the hay or shavings in the hen house).  The big problem with having all your eggs in the same basket is if you happen to trip over a chicken and they all get broken by knocking up against each other.  I have seen on line they now have aprons with multiple pockets to possibly help--unless you fall flat on your face.

As I write today--the Olympics are about to open.  For almost two weeks, I will be highly entertained watching all the competitions.  Every four years--the world comes together to play games--and choose the best of the best.  As I thought this over this morning, it reminded me of having all your eggs in one basket.  These athletes have trained their entire lives---with the ultimate goal of being an Olympic Champion.  Oh, there are annual world competitions between the Olympic Games, but the granddaddy of them all--the prize most sought after is that Olympic Gold Medal.  Year upon year----hour upon hour of training and it all comes down to one final competition.  You walk away with a medal or you go home with your tail between you legs.  Is that really it?  Are you only a winner if you have that Olympic gold?  Is that why you have worked and struggled and will you still be satisfied if you have no Gold Medal?

What if we looked at life in this same manner?  What if we looked at each and every day as a competition----and we were only a winner if we came out on top at the day's end?  One of my pass times is reading obituaries.  Some go into great detail in summarizing their lifetime accomplishments.  That final recognition of all their wins.  Obituaries, like funerals, are not for the deceased, but for those left behind.  A written summary of what those left want the world to know about their dearly departed.  I laughingly tell my children I want my obituary to say one simple thing ~ SHE GONE.  To those who know me-they know the story--they know how I lived and no explanation is necessary.  I hope I will be remembered for what I meant to those I leave--not some long explanation of what I think you should remember--but instead your memories.

  SO---is our obituary our final testament of our Olympic competition of life?  Does what we put on paper match up with the truth of how we have lived?  Are we claiming a Gold Medal life or are we being rewarded an Olympic Gold for well done?  Is the world our judge or is what is written in the Book of Life more important?  I have done my fair share of chasing worldly goals, but what I am most happy with is not those accomplishments, but when I quietly gave another a push, a pat on the back, a helping hand, or met a need.  Those are eternal accomplishments----never expecting praise--but knowingly following the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  While it is certainly nice to have the pat on the back by our fellow man---what is truly worthy is God's approval of "Well Done".  

"Whatever you do,

work at it with all your heart,

we working for the Lord,

not for human masters."

Colossians 3:23