How do you measure a life?

I attended the celebration service of a colleague today. Of course such a moment invites reflection. The pastor began his remarks by saying that 49 years was not long enough for such a person. He was well liked by friends, neighbors and his church family. He was respected by colleagues. But how do you measure a life...by friends; money; accolades; good deeds; faith; or years? We all ponder that question. I believe, consciously or unconsciously, we all strive for balance. We want to mean something to someone...To be valued in some area of our life...We want to count. This gentleman told people that he learned to value each moment once he was ill. I am sure his priorities shifted in an instant when he learned his diagnosis. But in the battle between our head and our hearts, often our heads win out. When my daughter was weeks away from college, I was seized with guilt for all the time I spent in the office and not with her. I asked myself if I was fully present, did I give her what she needed, did she know how important I was or did she think work was my passion. My head, and economics, both make me responsible. I know that I started a new job with a small group just to have the flexibility needed to be where my children needed me to be. And I did show up. But I will always question my choices about the people in my life and the opportunities in my path. So in the end, the question is not how others measure a life. It is how we measure our own life that counts. I know that this particular man found great value and worth in his life and the people around him. More than anything, he enjoyed life and welcomed people to join the celebration. He didn't choose to measure his life. Todd Cline chose to enjoy and share his life with the people around him. And that cannot be measured.