Life has been described as a journey from the cradle to the grave. I like to think of life in terms of a mission given before birth and to be completed at death. It requires discipline to discover our mission, discipline to maintain the course, and the utmost discipline to complete the mission. The undisciplined person will compromise the mission at any stage. Fortunately, we are given signs and clues along the way to help us discover, maintain, and complete the mission. Just as a driver going to an unfamiliar place on an unfamiliar road must pay close attention to the road signs, those who are serious about fulfilling their life’s mission must pay close attention to signs and clues along the way.
If we treat our life’s mission as if we were on a ‘Top Secret’ assignment, we will quickly recognize anything that takes us off mission. When you know your mission, paying close attention to signs and clues, will let you know if you are on the right road and in the right state of mind. Perhaps one clue to our shared mission is that, though we may be from different parts of the world, have different skin colors and nationalities, and may see life very differently, our blood can be transfused across the human family. There are signs and clues all around us to help us find our way through the maze of life. Perhaps some of the greatest clues are found in our mental, physical, and emotional illnesses. Sometimes we ignore the signs of impending illness and fail to listen to the voices of reason which point us in the direction of our mission. The discipline and success of previous generations can be seen in the signs and clues they left for us to follow, some even on their death beds. Our success may just depend on our discipline to leave signs and clues for those who come after us.