On Sunday, December 27^th, I spoke on the topic of of navigating the issues and questions that we will face in the coming decade from the perspective of various ‘life-stages’. I used the writing of Gordon MacDonald from his book, A Resilient Life to pose some of the typical questions each ‘life-stage’ decade asks. Here they are. I challenge you to find your decade and reflect on how well you are preparing for the challenges that you will be facing. Are their questions or issues that need to be addressed, corrected, or in some way dealt with? If so, how do you plan to do it?

Questions for the 20-somethings

How am I different from my mother or father?

Where can I find friends who will welcome me as I am?

What will I do with my life?

What parts of my life need correction?

Around what person or conviction will I organize my life?

Questions for the 30-somethings

How do I prioritize the demands being made on my life?

How far can I go in fulfilling my sense of purpose?

Who are the key people with whom I will walk through life with?

What does my spiritual life look like? Do I even have time for one?

Why am I not a better person?

Questions for the 40-somethings

Why do some people seem to be doing better than I?

Why am I often disappointed in myself and others?

Why do I seem to face so many uncertainties?

What can I do to make a greater contribution to my generation?

What would it take to take up a whole new calling in life?

Questions for the 50-somethings

Why is time moving so fast?

Why is my body becoming unreliable?

How do I deal with my failures and my successes?

How can my spouse and I reinvigorate our relationship now that the children are gone?

Who are these young people who want to replace me?

Will we have enough money for the retirement years if there are health problems or economic downturns?

Questions for the 60-somethings

When do I stop doing the things that have always defined me?

Why do I feel ignored by a large part of the younger population?

Why am I curious about who is listed in the obituary column of the paper?

Do I have enough time to do all the things I’ve dreamed of doing?

Which one of us will go first?

What do I regret?

What have I done that will outlive me?

Questions for the 70/80-somethings

Does anyone realize, or even care, who I once was?

How much of my life can I still control?

Is there anything I can still contribute?

Why this anger and irritability?

Is God really there for me?

Am I ready to face death?

What is heaven like?