A concept that has been rattling around in my head the last few weeks is what I’ve labeled “Last Third Living.” The Lord willing, I am in the last one-third of my life. How do I want to finish?

Reading 1 John 4:7-21, I have come to this underlying principle: To finish well is to finish in love. (The definition of love is more stringent for me than what we might see in our culture.)

I was listening to Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown and this thought on love is added to it (though I paraphrase): to truly love is to truly risk being heart-broken. Those who are heart-broken have learned to love. This is someone with deep character, or at least the potential for deep character.

We don’t “love” manipulate our way. We don’t “love” to win arguments. We risk our very being to love.

To finish well is to finish in LOVE.