What Makes A Fulfilled Life

Have you ever thought about what fills your gas tank when it comes to living a fulfilled life? Is it prosperity, clout, perfection, happiness, or self? I've read somewhere there are three main things: Someone to love. Something to work at. And something to look forward to.

Jan and I spent this past week enjoying each others company, visiting friends and places in Arizona. However I think I"ll postpone sharing our adventures and tell you about a friend of mine who lived a fulfilled life.

Ken, his sons Joel and Bryce, and their help, operated a large farrow to finish hog operation as well as crop farming here in our community. It's been a privilege for our family not only to have a business relationship, but also a friendship with them. Ken was someone I looked up to, especially in the area of giving and helping others. Ken lost his battle with cancer and passed away about a week ago.  

Ken had folks to love: His wife Gerri. His children Karen, Jackie, Joel, and Bryce and their families. And his extended siblings and their families. He was a charter member of Cedar CRC Church and used his leadership abilities there all his life. Below his grandchildren were part of his funeral singing as well as telling stories about their Grandpa and what he meant to them.

Ken had something to work at: After college, which was a little while at Dordt and then finishing at Iowa State, Ken came home and joined the family farm. He was often recognized for his new and cutting edge ideas in pork production. He very much enjoyed attending the Master Pork Producers Breakfast every year.

I got to know Ken best on our trips to Malawi, Africa where Ken worked with Partners Worldwide to help improve farming in that country. Ken headed up a group of folks from our country who helped support this cause. Later we formed a non-profit called Farmer to Farmer Consulting. We hired three local employees. Kondwani, Jane, and Harrison, pictured below with Ken. The trip to southeastern Africa would often take two days and include up to seven different flights and numerous airport layovers. So needless to say Ken and I often had hours to visit about everything (except politics) :) Once we were in the dirty and rundown Nairobi airport for 12 hours. It has since burnt and been rebuilt.

Ken also worked at helping others in many ways, including hiring those who needed work. A few years back he nominated Jan and I for an award. The award was an honor and allowed me to share faith and family in the story. The recognition and memory of the award soon fades. However I will never forget the friend that took the time and effort to help make it happen.

A fulfilled life includes more than just loving family. While in Arizona, Jan and I were able to catch up with some dear friends including Tom and Erin who winter in Yuma,AZ. Our paths crossed when Tom was interim pastor at Pella II where our son Kurt and Emily attend. Thanks Tom and Erin.

We also stayed overnight at Gary and Jerri's guest quarters in Salome,AZ. Gary is Kurt's landlord. We drove to supper through the dessert with these Razors. Thanks for the good time Gary. And thanks for allowing us to borrow your Razor while it was in AZ Mike.

An always fun visit is staying in Ora Valley near Tuscan with landlords and friends, Marvin and Jean. We also attended church last Sunday with them. Thanks Marvin and Jean, not only for our friendship but everything you've done for our family over the years helping to give us something to work at in farming your acres. And thanks Marvin for the candle-holder you made for Jan.

One of the places Jan enjoys visiting while in Ora Valley is a thrift store called The Golden Goose. It's full of all kinds of items folks donate when they no longer need them. Often children will empty the winter homes of their elderly parents who pass away or get moved to assisted living.

While Jan shops I usually mosey around staying out of folks way or find someone to visit with who is doing the same thing. As I was looking at piles of wall hangings I found this Mother of the Year Award given to a mother from her young children (according to their signatures) in 1975. It was for sale for one dollar. Obviously this unknown mother was loved, by her three children. She had something to work at, raising her kids. I wondered if she had something to look forward to, in her later life. When our lives are over, there has to be more to look forward to, than our kids taking our stuff to a thrift store.

Ken had something to look forward to: Not because he did a lot of good things, but because he had simply accepted Christ's gift of salvation to him, he was looking forward to eternity in heaven. Ken's brother told him, and Ken told his sister Elaine, we can only imagine the glories of life after death.

Have you ever thought about what heaven is like? I know. We're all quite busy and happy down here. And it's really kind of hard to think about something like our mortality. But just like that unknown mother who received the award from her children 45 years ago. We don't stay here forever. You don't have to hope you're good enough. Good enough don't count. Like Ken, you just have to say yes to God when you feel Him working on your heart. Then you finish strong your years here on earth living that fulfilled life by loving, being generous, and helping others. We can only imagine.