How would you like your life to be described at the end of your life?
One of our sons introduced me to a podcast at Christmas and I’ve been enjoying it as a gift ever since. “The Diary of a CEO.” The host asks guests a series of rapid fire questions at the end of each podcast. The answers compete with the bulk of the content as the best part of the podcast. I listened to an episode in early April and the host asked the guest, “How would you describe your life on your deathbed?”
Good question.
Better answer.
Unanticipated
The guest replied, “Unanticipated.”
I like that answer.
I like it enough to make it my own. And if I tell the story long enough, I will forget that the word was not an original thought. (But originality is overrated.)
Unanticipated is a good summary of my life. Getting married, having children, enjoying grandkids, having good health are not inevitable. The past 47 years of marriage with Jocelyn have been exceptional. And not that exceptional wasn’t anticipated, but the degree of daily fulfillment exceeds anything imagined.
And being afforded the privilege of pastoring wonderful people in Essex, Montreal, and the Edmonton area was unanticipated. Even graduating Bible College and being trusted with a pastoral role was unanticipated by my parents. Jocelyn and I got to do big things together. Not the least of which was traveling the world with short-term mission teams.
Oh the places you’ll go. We watched the sun come up in Petra. Moscow and Siberia were not what we imagined. We pinched ourselves traversing the Panama Canal. yep, really here. An African safari was for National Geographic photographers not the Joneses.
Double Wow
We never anticipated going to Israel once, let alone three times. Nor did we anticipate being in a war zone and working with Ed Dickson and wonderful new friends in Ukraine. One year ago today, May 28th, 2025 Jocelyn was about to enter a war zone for the first time with a husband who had just undergone emergency surgery.
Wow.
Just wow.
This week I took a trip to Abbostford for the first time and the flight path took me low over the mountains. I was a like a kid taking in the spectacular view from my window seat. 
Faith
Here we are in our 70s and me working in a role with younger leaders on our District staff team. (In my case, almost everyone is younger.)
On Tuesday mornings I attend a staff prayer time and discussion of scripture. This week, one of our young leaders commented that people of faith have every reason to be the most optimistic and positive. We have the assurance of knowing the God who is in control of the Universe as well as every detail of our lives.
That means followers of Jesus would have the most reasons to be a blessing to people living through challenge and chaos.
That’s wisdom beyond a young leader’s years.
Appreciation
Knowing that all good things come to an end, helps me appreciate the unanticipated role and relationships I enjoy.
That joy will not be unanticipated.
What about you? What was unanticipated? Please join the conversation and post a comment below.
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