In his book Sacred Fire* Ronald Rolheiser talked about three great struggles in life:

1. Essential Discipleship – the struggle to get your life together.
2. Mature Discipleship – the struggle to give your life away.
3. Radical Discipleship – the struggle to make your death have a maximum impact.

Essential Discipleship

Struggle #1: Here you struggle to find your identity. Growing up is a challenge. There are trials, bullies, and traumas. Next come sexual challenges, body and relationship changes. Hopes and dreams. Let downs. Careers. And financial security. In summary, this struggle is about asking these questions:

• How do I give my life to work?
• Where do I fit in?
• Where do I belong?

Mature Discipleship

Struggle #2: Somewhere in your 40s to 60s you change. You become the leader. You’re helping younger people. You are life coaching others. Your life becomes about serving others. Giving yourself away is a joy. It’s time to celebrate others. You have a house, family, career, and church responsibilities. The questions now become:

• How do I give my life away?
• How do I serve others?
• How can I be more generous?

Radical Discipleship

Struggle #3: The struggle becomes how do I give my death in service to others. The questions now become:

• How will my death bless others?
• How can my death bring about new life?
• How do I bless my family?
• How do I bless my church?
• How can my death make the world a better place?

Prayer

Father, thank you for this life. Help me to be happy with my life. Help me to know my identity as a child of God. Help me serve, give, and love others in the middle part of my life. And, help me die in a way that brings glory and honor to you, my family, and the church of Jesus Christ.

Meditation

The life of Jesus was a sacrificial life. His life was given so that we may live.