Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG 13 A Lesson from the Jelly Bean Jar R emember that saying from when we were kids? “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That really wasn’t very helpful, was it? In fact, as we’ve grown older, we come to realize just how powerful words can be. Words can tear down or build up. Words can bring life and hope. Words can lead and guide. For me, a single word is my focus for this year – the word intentional. By definition, intentional means something done on purpose; deliberately. The reason the word intentional resonates with me is that I’m getting older. And because I’m getting older, I want to be intentional with the way I’m living my life. Intentional with my money (pay off house in seven years). Intentional with my health (started running, again). Intentional with my work. In fact, it’s this notion of being intentional in my work that has really grabbed my attention. Here’s why this is important to me this year. On July 21, I’ll turn 55. Now, when I was thirty, 55 seemed really old. That’s not the case any- more. But realizing I’ll be 55 means only ten years remain until I turn 65; the age I will retire. I want to be intentional with the ten years I have left to work. I want these years to be the most productive years I’ve ever had. I want to end my days of work strong. I want to see my work con- tinue beyond my days. I want to do this well. To help me stay intentional, that is, to do things on purpose and deliberately, I created a visual aid to keep me focused – a jar of jelly beans. In fact, a jar of 3,650 jelly beans; ten years’ worth of jelly beans. These jelly beans represent the number of days I have until I retire. Each morning I’ll take a jelly bean out of the jar. And while taking one jelly bean out of the jar at a time doesn't seem like much, it will add up over time. We often act as if we’re going to live forever, but we know that’s not the case. We have a fixed amount of time. The ten years I have until retirement is a fixed amount of time. The Bible says it this way in Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” As I remove a jelly bean from the jar each day, I’ll be reminded that the days will turn into years and before I know it, ten years will have passed. Being remind- ed that the time I have is limited will help me to live wisely; help me to live intentionally. You can find out more about Chaplain Joe and Fire Rescue Support by visiting www.fireres- cuesupport.com. JJo os se ep ph h A A. . L La aC Co og gn na atta a • • F Fiir re e R Re es sc cu ue e S Su up pp po or rtt • • Fire Service Chaplaincy A Ministry of Presence By Joseph A. LaCognata, Chaplain, Fire Rescue Support July 2017 FFS.QXD 6/27/17 7:53 PM Page 13