I have only recently been willing to admit that I am middle-aged. I am still young enough to like having fun and listen to music with a strong beat in it, but old enough to have to prepare for retirement and take care of my body so it will last as long as my mind (assuming my mind holds out too!). When you are in the middle of life you have the ability to look back over the first 45 years and evaluate it to make any necessary course corrections so that the next 40 years will have greater meaning and impact.

In my life evaluation I check to see how well my teenagers are growing into young adults. I look at whether or not my kids are asked over to other people's homes to play and if other kids want to be around them. I review my work history, positions of influence I've had, how well I have handled responsibilities given to me, whether or not I am a good neighbour or how well I am helping those less fortunate than myself. I wonder if I am the dad and husband and son and brother and uncle and employee and citizen I need to be and evaluate areas in which I can make improvements. I have always considered each stage in my life as preparation for what God has in store for me down the road and try to do well in each phase of life to minimize potential problems in the next phase. OK, so some people at mid-life buy a red sports car - I can only afford self-evaluation!

My father is nearing the end of his eighth decade of life, and I have the privilege of watching how he finishes his life. Everyone finishes life at some point, but not everyone finishes well. Some people finish life alone with many regrets and disappointments. Others near the end of their life and look back over many significant achievements and successes surrounded by those they love. Most of us are somewhere in between. My father has always had a very strong desire and determination to finish well. He does not want to go out with a whimper, but appears to be ending going full steam ahead. I recently came on board in his organization so I get to see him in action first hand. I have to admit trying to keep up with him wears me out!

The writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews wrote, "Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God" Hebrews 12:1-2.

This passage challenges us to see life as a race and to realize only those who strive for the goal will achieve victory. The example given is that of Christ Himself who would not let anyone or anything distract Him from his goal of complete obedience to the Father even to death on the cross. Death was not His goal; resurrection was. Death was necessary for resurrection and victory to take place. Christ did His part by being faithful right to the end. God did the rest, raising His Son to life defeating death and hell once and for all.

There is a human race, but it seems clear there are a great number of people racing through life but they don't realize the shortcuts and the pathways they have taken are not leading to the finish line, they are leading to destruction - destruction of relationships, of marriages, financial ruin, destruction of reputations and integrity and of their own soul. We see it all the time. Those who have done great things in life make one mistake at the end and their life's work comes crashing down around them. Greed, addictions, adultery, immorality - these are the things the writer of Hebrews refers to as "the sin that so easily entangles" and can disqualify us from finishing the race well. Where are you in your life right now? Is what you are doing in your life going to lead you to the proper destination? Are you going to finish life well or just finish life?

The benefit of middle age is that it is not too late to repair damaged relationships, ask forgiveness from those we have hurt, venture out into new areas that have always intrigued us, and use the wisdom we have accrued and the lessons we learn from other's mistakes to stay on the right path right to the end. Then our Father in heaven will do the rest!