Have you ever been told by someone – your main problem in life is that you don’t need people? Naturally, when I was told this the other day, I was at first pretty hurt and offended. Come on now. I’m an old guy who happens to be head over heels in love with his wife, family and oh those grandkids….
But he wasn’t talking about that. He meant that I don’t need people other than my wife, children, grandkids…. Then this exchange reminded me of those immortalized words sung by Barbra Streisand. They’ve echoed down through the decades—even praised as a celebration of human connection. Sorry. The tune is probably going to be stuck in your head for a while:
People,
People who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world.
We're children, needing other children.
And yet letting a grown-up pride
Hide all the need inside—
Acting more like children, than children
(“People,” from Funny Girl).
But what if Barbra Streisand was wrong? What if the need for others, at least in the way society often corrupts it, is not a sign of luck, but a reflection of a deeper issue?
Bottom line upfront: We have proof here https://bttb.org/purposeandpivots that the luckiest, most hopeful and satisfied people are Christ followers who help other people. Take a look and be sure to let me know what you think. How does this discovery apply to you?
You see, too often, those "people who need people" actually need people to fit into very specific boxes of expectations. They only end up surrounding themselves with people who:
· Are the same color
· Practice the same faith
· Have the same social status
· Like the same kind of church service (music and traditions)
· Have the same political beliefs
· Have the right citizenship or proper immigration status
· Have the same views about marriage and gender identity
That’s why I say Barbra lied. The actual “luckiest people” are those who want to help others regardless of who they are or what they believe. These are the people who, like Jesus, extend a hand of compassion and understanding to all, recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of every human being.
Jesus didn’t need people to look, act, or think like Him to extend His love. He didn’t filter out the lepers, the Samaritans, the tax collectors, or the sinners. He didn’t love conditionally. He loved universally. He loved extravagantly. He loved inconveniently.
So actually, the luckiest people in the world are those who help people. They are the ones who see beyond differences to recognize the image of God in every human soul. They embrace the hard, messy work of loving others who may not fit into their comfort zone.
Once we step into this mindset, we don’t just become more like Jesus—we become part of His mission. We experience the joy of building bridges instead of walls. And we reflect the heart of the Savior who desires all to come to Him.
The Bottom line if you don’t have time to review our study is this section:
The Center for Spiritual Fitness conducted a comprehensive general population study of 2,500+ adults, examining the intersection of spiritual growth, life satisfaction, and personal transformation in the second half of life.
As our data suggests, spiritual engagement plays a pivotal role in shaping life satisfaction, hope, and the sense of purpose among older adults. Those who have reached the highest stage of spiritual growth where they are investing in others, particularly mentors and disciple makers, report the highest levels of satisfaction across various life domains, especially in their spiritual lives and personal relationships. This underscores the importance of fostering meaningful connections, both with God and with others, to enhance well-being during this life stage.
I wanted you to know this good news first as we continue down a very complex road of discerning “God’s will versus my will,” and the even more tricky road of discerning the voice and work of the Holy Spirit.
Please reply and let me know what you think. Send your comments to me here.
-Arnie
