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22 November 2016

Build Your Life Around What is Eternal and Squeeze What is Temporary

Written by Randall Hartman

It’s important to build your life around what’s eternal and not temporary.

This election cycle ignited a ferocious Civil War between family and friends. In this war, Facebook and social media became the new bloody battlegrounds of Gettysburg and Chickamauga.

It hurt to see good friends square off and attack each other, refusing to back down or compromise. In recent days, as the body counted grew, a few survivors announced the need to take a break. The damage is done.

Through this ugly political period I’ve been reminded of the need to focus on the important things. In my book Tom’s List there’s a chapter explaining how wise people build their lives around what is eternal. All other things ought to be put into their proper perspective.

Your relationships with trusted friends are more important than:

  • The candidate you vote for.
  • Your views on immigration.
  • Who Donald Trump selects for his cabinet.
  • If Hillary or Trump is fit to be president.

EACH of those things are temporary. They may have importance for the next several years. But another election will take place. Another candidate will capture the crowd or repulse them. These issues come and go.

The real challenge in life is to learn the importance of focusing on what matters most. Pour your life into things which are eternal. Give those issues your highest attention and best effort.

What are these eternal things? You must answer this question for yourself. But for me the list is short:

  • My relationship with God.
  • My relationship with family.
  • My relationship with friends.

Am I going to damage these areas of my life because of a Facebook debate? Of course not! My opinions about Hillary or Trump are fleeting. Why would I damage my relationship with God, family, or friends over such matters? Build your life around what is eternal.

This is our challenge: focus on the eternal and put the temporary into its proper place.

If you want to read more on this subject, and 49 other commandments to live by, check out Tom’s List. On Amazon it sells for $11.99. Through the end of November, if you buy it from me, I’ll give you free copies with a purchase.

  • Buy one copy, I’ll send you two.
  • Buy three, I’’ll send you five.
  • Buy six, I’ll send you ten.
  • Buy nine and I’ll send you 14.

These free copies make great Christmas gifts.

You can find that offer here.

Congrats on surviving the most vicious political season in recent memory. Now go. Focus on what’s eternal.

5 Comments

  1. Mark Reply
    November 22, 2016 at 6:32 am

    Off topic.
    Being a civil war/history bluff, I’m curious as to why you mentioned chickamauga?

    • Randy Hartman Reply
      November 22, 2016 at 6:37 am

      Not being a Civil War buff I merely typed out two of the battles which came to my mind as being costly.

      • Mark Reply
        November 22, 2016 at 6:41 am

        Ah, yes.
        Gettysburg is understandable. Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. Combined casualties approximately 22,000.
        Unbelievable.
        One. Day.

  2. Tim Reply
    November 24, 2016 at 11:34 pm

    Very good and wise words, Randy. It has been terrible to see the devastation across our country to relationships because of the election. Sadly, it continues. How easy it is for us to be drawn away from the eternal. We all seek peace, need love, and crave assurance; yet all too often we seek it in the wrong places and ways. Thank you for a much needed reminder.

  3. Terry Reply
    December 6, 2016 at 5:11 pm

    Randy: Great idea. Time is moving at such a fast pace, we can’t afford to waste our time on trivial matters. Doesn’t it seem like President Obama was just elected yesterday? They say (and “they” are always right!) that life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes! Just the thought of the topic, makes me wonder what I need to do different at work tomorrow.

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