A friend of mine recently filled out a job application and told me that one of the questions on the application was "If you could high five one person, who would it be?"
I responded immediately with "The Pope". She looked surprised, but after explaining my answer I saw a look in her eye that meant she got the message, always a plus when you friend is also a client that you are putting through one hell of a work out.
I picked the Pope for a few reasons, I fill my life with faith, and having grown up Catholic, the Pope was a natural choice for me. I have had days in my life where two things have kept me going, faith and hope. I believe that faith and hope are in-separable, and thankfully they have pulled me through many a tough time.
But beyond the obvious reason that the Pope is a man of God are a few reasons that aren't as obvious.
Popes are OLD and at the HEIGHT of their CAREERS! The average age of all Popes upon election is age 62.39. When most people are trying to retire, hoping to retire and counting down the days to when they can sit back and do nothing the Pope is ramping up for the biggest job he can possibly have here on earth! AND no one doubts his abilities given his age... In fact there is no rule about being too old to be Pope, in fact, they die still the POPE! No retirement, just serving people, right up until their last breath and no one takes their title and sends them off to be a greeter at a large grocery store chain. In fact, it is a position that is based on having lived long enough to know how to serve people all over the world the best. The wisdom of their years is celebrated not shamed.
Not only does the Pope have the wisdom of years, but he hasn't PEAKED YET. Think about it, even in his advanced years the Pope is still advancing himself, his life, his love and his career. How many people can say they peaked in their 80's or 90's? How many people do you know that have peaked in their 20's, 30's 40's , 50's, or 60's ? That believe the best that life had to offer has gone by and all that remains is a slippery slope downward? Not the Pope, his life must be such that everyday WILL be better than the last, that no matter the age he still works to better himself and the world in which he lives, and that he will most likely die the Pope, which means the ladder he is climbing does not go down.
How amazing would life be if we could all live that way, improving day by day, year by year, decade by decade? What if our peers believed in us even more at the age of 70 than the age of 30. What if there was no ladder down?
You may not agree with the teaching of the Catholic Church.. that aside, I believe that there is a lesson to be learned. We are all born with a purpose for our life, and I believe that when you seek out that purpose and use the gifts that you were given you will find that you haven't yet peaked, and if you continue to be filled with hope and faith, your ladder will only go one way.
Oh, and if I was given the option of picking two people you better believe my #2 would be Jack Lalanne, but I would make him do pushups with a high 5 in between:)
