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Have you ever considered what kind of story you are writing with your life? You do realize that you are writing a story, right? We all are. Like it or not. Each day, we wake up to a blank page and write. For the most part, what is written that day depends on each of us. Our story builds on what was written the day before. It follows along the theme of what we’ve accomplished to this point. And yet, at any time, we can make the choice to change direction with the story.

Many people don’t like the story they are writing. And so, they ignore the book. They pretend the words aren’t really be written. They dive into some kind of make believe story and imagine their life differently. They go online and create a persona that really isn’t them. They watch movies and imagine themselves the hero, or the villan.

And yet, each day, another page is written in their own story. What are you writing?

There are a few things that have caused me to think more about this question. If you’ll indulge me, I’d like to share them with you. I’ll try to do this quickly, because I know most of you are pretty busy getting the final things done before Christmas. But, if you take the time to read this post to the very end, you may discover the best Christmas present you could give yourself.

Let me share three things.

First, I was struck yesterday by a tweet that came across my twitter account. A pastor wrote, “can’t imagine the pain of launching a church, watching it grow, stepping down in shame, & seeing a new pastor step up. Praying 4 ______”. I didn’t know the name of the person he was praying for, but I clicked on their twitter name and then went to the blog linked to his account. He planted a church eight years ago and was seeing amazing things done. And then, a six week affair brought everything crashing to the ground. Yesterday, that church announced the name of the pastor who would replace him. As I read his blog, I found a man who was trying to get his life back on track. It’s been six months since his actions became public. Today, he inspects roofs for an insurance company. He is separated from his wife and children, but his focus is to repair the damage he has caused to those relationships. He doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him. His wife and children are the victims. Still, yesterday must have been an incredible day of mixed emotions. On his own twitter account, he celebrated the announcement of a new pastor and wished him and the church nothing but God’s best, and yet still … it would have been a tough day. This pastor wakes up each morning and faces a blank page. He is writing a story that hopefully will describe how God can raise up a broken man. God is the God of Second Chances.

His story struck me because I often hear people tell me that they’ve given up on their own story. They failed miserably. For thirty or forty years, the pages of their life have been fill with failure. Broken relationships, missed opportunities, crushed promises. Rather than see the blank page in front of them today, they see the mess of a page from yesterday. Again, God is the God of Second Chances.

The second thing has me thinking about story took place a year ago. As many of you know, I have to amazing daughters. One is seventeen, the other is eleven. I’m still enjoying being a dad. That’s my focus. Most of my closest friends are in that stage of enjoying parenthood. However, a little over a year ago, a little baby boy was born. His name is Landon. Landon’s mom and dad are like adopted kids to me. Landon’s grandparent’s are some of my closest friends. Heck, I’m even known as “Papa Rob” to Landon (not that he really knows that name yet, he’s only one after all. But, he will.).

This morning, I was thinking about Landon’s grandfather, John. Actually, I was thinking about Landon in twenty five years. I imagined him sitting on a couch, cuddling a cute girl. They are in love. They’re talking about the future. And then, the cute girl asks Landon about his family. And for a minute, Landon is quiet. He is thinking. Memories flood his mind. He starts to share about his parents, and how amazing they are. He laughs as he talks about his grandmother Chantal. How she still spoils him rotten. How her face lights up every time he comes to visit. But then he gets quiet again. I imagine him almost whispering to the cute girl he is cuddling with, “Do you know who inspires me the most? My grandfather.” The cute girl hasn’t met his family yet, so she cuddles in a little closer and says, “Tell me about him.” And Landon does. He talks about his Dutch grandfather who taught him what it’s like to be a strong man. He tells stories that I can’t share, because … well, they haven’t been written yet. But they will be.

You see, John is writing on fresh pages. He’s writing a story that will live on through grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. The story he writes will be up to him. What he wants Landon to tell that cute girl cuddling him on the couch is up to John.

Finally, this whole idea of the story we write has been sparked in my mind thanks to a book I’m reading right now. Don Miller has written a number of books, but his latest, A Million Miles In A Thousand Years is an amazing book. I encourage you to pick it up. Make it a gift to yourself this Christmas season. And be inspired to write a good story rather than a tragedy.

Look, each of us is writing a story. This is non-negotiable. Whether you like it or not, you’re writing a story. The question is we must ask is what kind of story are we writing?

Today’s page is blank before you. What will be written on the page at the end of the day?