A Lot of People Die Long Before the Date on Their Death Certificate

For the longest time, I prided myself on being content. But the more I think about content - the more I look into the meaning of it - I wonder if content was ever the right word.

And if it was the right word, I wonder if content is even a good thing.

The word content comes from the Latin word contentus - meaning contained; satisfied. When the French and Medieval Latin folks got done with the word, content came to mean a contented person's desires are bound by satisfaction with what one already has.

In one of my favorite verses in the bible, the apostle Paul says, I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. 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. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13)

Here's the thing about Paul learning to be content. A thing that sticks out to me this morning more than they ever. On the other side of Paul saying I can be content - he says I CAN DO.

Paul wasn't using the idea of content to hide from life, he was using it as motivation to live life. Paul wasn't saying life is never going to go my way, so I'll be content with anything. Paul was saying, oh, believe me, I'm going after life. And as long as I'm going after it, whatever happens in that pursuit - well I'm good with it.

I'll note that when Paul came up with his definition of content, he was in prison. He was in prison because he was trying to live out the teachings of Jesus. Paul's life was hardly contained by what he already had.

But his contentment was.

I think if we're not careful, content can become I give up. Content can become I've lost my fire for life so I'm just going to teach myself to be okay with the ashes it's left. When we get to that place, it's easy to start surrounding ourselves with people who are okay with our ashes as well. We seek them out. And in turn, we run from the people wanting to breathe air into our fire.

All of us reading this, we are all going to die. We know that. Paul sure knew that. So our question isn't am I going to die.

The question is, am I already dead? Am I already dead, but have convinced myself I'm okay with that. I'm content there.

The answer to that, I think, comes in asking ourselves a different question. As we look ahead to this week, are we looking at this week in terms of I CAN DO? Or, am I at a place of believing there's nothing I can do, and I'm okay with that.

I truly hope it's an I CAN DO week for all of you, and that in your passionate fight to do all you can do, you'll be content with all you have.