How do you measure a year?

I was looking back at some things I had written in years past trying to find some inspiration for a blog post. I found the following written on July 5, 2008. I would like to think that I try to remember this inspiration and live my life based on what I wrote so many years ago. However, I know that I can always strive to do better. Here is that original posting word for word because I think I said it so well back then and need to re-visit these thoughts and remember what makes my life worth living:

"Last night I was at the fireworks with some friends and as I sat there watching the colorful display I couldn't help but think about last 4th of July. Where I was, who I was with from last year to this was all different. This got me thinking about how fast a year has gone by and what I had done with my life in that year.

Later we watched Rent at my apartment and as I listened to the opening song I thought about this again but in a slightly different light. Here are the lyrics for those who aren't familiar with the movie:

Seasons of Love

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Moments so dear
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure - Measure A Year?
In Daylights - In Sunsets
In Midnights - In Cups Of Coffee
In Inches - In Miles
In Laughter - In Strife

In - Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure
A Year In The Life?

How About Love?
How About Love?
How About Love?
Measure In Love

Seasons of Love.
Seasons of Love.

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Journeys To Plan

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure The Life
Of A Woman Or A Man

In Truths That She Learned
Or In Times That He Cried
In Bridges He Burned
Or The Way That She Died

It's Time Now - To Sing Out
Though The Story Never Ends
Let's Celebrate
Remember A Year In The Life Of Friends

Remember the Love
Remember the Love
Remember the Love
Measure In Love

Oh you got to you got to remember the love,
You know that love is a gift from up above
Share love, give love, spread love
Measure, measure your life in love.

Seasons Of Love(2x)

Measure your life, measure your life in love



Often I think we have a tendency to measure the success and worth of our lives in terms of accomplishments or who we associate ourselves with. While these things can be important I think people, myself included, sometimes forget that at times the smaller things in our lives speak at much higher volumes than the big things. We are more likely to be remembered and appreciated by others for how we treat those around us than the large goals we set and meet for ourselves.

That's not to say that goals aren't important. I myself am a very goal oriented person and will remain so for the rest of my life. However, what if I simply "measured my life in love?". Would that be such a bad thing? I don't think so.

One of my favorite Bible verses is 1st Corinthians 13:13 which says: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

For Christians I think we often get caught up in the "rules and regulations" of our faith and begin to think that doing or not doing certain things is what makes our lives worthwhile. And for those of any religion we, as humans, may simply get caught up in what society defines as greatness. But if we each took time to simply look around and be receptive to the needs of others how much better would the world be? If we really did measure the bulk of our life in love and what we did to better the world and included our material goals and aspirations as a small addition to this I think maybe our lives would seem more complete. "