Death of a Rose
My Grandpa’s nickname for me throughout my little league baseball career was “Charlie Hustle,” which he adopted from his favorite major league player, Pete Rose, who died yesterday at age 83. No player in the 1960s and 1970s was more exciting than the player nicknamed “Charlie Hustle.” 
Rose’s relentless pursuit of excellence made him a baseball icon, in fact he remains professional baseball’s all time career hits leader and yet his choices to gamble on the game of baseball while leading as head coach undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame aspirations. His passing invites deep reflection on the complexities of both the quantity and quality of one’s life. This reflection aligns with the insights of Lynda Gratton and Andrew J. Scott in their book, The 100-Year Life.[1] They aim to invite conversation as individuals and as a society about what we will do with the additional time each of us has been given. I will consider the interplay of two major themes, quality and quantity of life, and the resulting profound consideration.
Quality and Quantity
Gratton and Scott show that due primarily to advancements in healthcare and living conditions, people are living longer than previous generations, which they argue calls into question the relevance of the traditional three-stage life model: education, work, and retirement. With all the time, money, and attention invested in health and well-being, the news that we live longer is likely excitedly welcomed. However, looking at the financial and social implications of increased quantity of life, Gratton and Scott challenge readers to question their criteria for defining quality of life.
The Apostle Paul indicates to those gathered in Athens that God gives life and breath to all humanity, determining the allotted span of their life.[2] And while we might be excited with 15-20 more years, it is pretty brief compared to eternity. As Moses considers the brevity of life in Psalm 90, he requests God, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”[3] His request highlights that we have a limited number of days here. Each day, therefore, has value, and recognizing this helps us gain wisdom about how we spend those days. A primary theme of Gratton and Scott’s book is not so much that we are living longer, but HOW we will live longer.[4] It’s the question of quality, given the quantity.
Gratton and Scott emphasize the need for new life strategies to maximize quality extended life spans. While much could be explored on how to live a happier and healthier life, proximity is the critical determiner of quality of life for Christians. Proximity to God is what determines one’s flourishing. Throughout the Bible, the primary impact on humanity’s ability to thrive is directly correlated to closeness to the Creator.[5] Walking daily and humbly with him is his design and desire.[6] This then shapes how we approach life at every stage. However, for those who reject God there is also no real hope for the future, one might as well eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.[7]
Consideration
In considering the idea of extended life spans, the Biblical account of King Hezekiah came to mind. Three accounts of this episode occur in the Scriptures, which tell us that upon facing death due to illness, Hezekiah begged God for more life.[8] God granted him 15 more years, and although Hezekiah had experienced the miraculous unquestionable deliverance of God, he sadly finished his life wholly consumed with himself. His proximity to God changed and resulted in diminished life and legacy, becoming a cautionary tale. The profound consideration from The 100-Year Life is not how long your life will be but how your life will resonate? What will the value of your life be, no matter its length? It’s a question of legacy.
Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ doesn’t just mean living in heaven but redeeming and shaping life on earth. We learn there is much more to life, regardless of whether it’s three stages. We see that there is a difference between a career and a calling. While a career is something we often pursue for personal advancement, calling seems to be that which we do to advance the cause and awareness of Christ. Therefore, for the Christian, work is redeemed. Whatever our job and however long we do it, we can see our work as not something we do to live, but rather the thing we live to do. Our work is something God has given us for his glory and our enjoyment, which predates the fall.[9] Throughout this book, I was reminded of a quote from Pastor Tim Keller.
Everyone will be forgotten, nothing we do will make any difference, and all good endeavors, even the best, will come to naught. Unless there is God. If the God of the Bible exists, and there is a True Reality beneath and behind this one, and this life is not the only life, then every good endeavor, even the simplest ones, pursued in response to God’s calling, can matter forever.[10]
The lives of those who have gone before us can teach us much. Both the lives of King Hezekiah and Pete Rose resonate because of what they teach about both triumph and tragedy. Will the victory and redemption of Christ resonate in our lives? Can we hold our lives with open hands and share in the sentiment that “To live is Christ, and to die is gain?”[11] There is much more to explore from Gratton and Scott’s insights, such as stewarding finances and what they call “Intangibles,” but for now, let’s consider today’s value.
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[1] Lynda Gratton and Andrew J. Scott, The 100 Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity, (London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020).
[2] Acts 17:26.
[3] Psalm 90:12.
[4] Gratton and Scott, The 100 Year Life, 16.
[5] Genesis 3, Psalm 1, John 15, Revelation 21.
[6] Micah 6:8.
[7] Isaiah 22:13, Luke 12:19, 1 Corinthians 15:32.
[8] 2 Kings 20:1-11, Isaiah 38:1-22, 2 Chronicles 32:24-26.
[9] Genesis 2:15.
[10] Timothy Keller with Katherine Leary Alsdorf, Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work, ( New York: Penguin Books, 2014),42.
[11] Philippians 1:21.
About the Author
Chad Warren
A husband, father, pastor, teacher, and student seeking to help others flourish.11 responses to “Death of a Rose”
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Chad,
You bring Pete Rose into the mix and your post is saturated with Scripture. Good job. I appreciate your focus on proximity to God as the focal point. I also appreciate that you bring Hezekiah into the story as one who was granted another 15 years but then wasted it. How might you encourage a retired person to spend their next 15 years?
Adam, I think expanding on the concept from the book of re-creation vs. recreation would be the way I would frame it for a retired person in my congregation, with the understanding that being a witness for Christ doesn’t involve retirement.
I never thought I would read something that mentioned King Hezekiah and Pete Rose in the same sentence. How might you counsel someone in a non-Christian lifestyle, secular or otherwise, about the principles of this book? Also, how are you planning for your own 100-year life?
Jennifer, thanks for the question. I would approach someone from a secular perspective similarly through the lens of quality vs. quantity. However, I might challenge their idea of lasting impact and legacy.
Hi, Chad, I enjoyed reading your post. It reminded me the value of life is that it is not about quantity, but quality. And not only that but that as Christians, our aspiration in life is not ‘the career,’ but the calling. And lastly, the planning for the longevity, that you alluded to as, ‘stewardship.’ But for those of us that our line of work is in nonprofit, business world, or public service, are these careers, or calling?
Chad – I enjoyed your post. I felt excitement reading Gratton and Scott – thinking that there is much more opportunity in life than I had thought.
But King Hezekiah is a sobering example of the boasting and foolishness that came with the promise of a prolonged life. What practices do you have to plan for a long life while also knowing that every day is a gift from the Lord?
Christy, I must prioritize and plan practices enabling deeper and regular fellowship with the Lord.
Chad, I have “Every Good Endeavor” on my bookshelf – have, for years – and now you’ve caused me to want to pick it up. (You and I keep doing that for each other, don’t we?)
I’m also intrigued by your reference to Pete Rose. The idea of “quality” of life is of paramount importance; I appreciate your Biblical analysis of this question.
As we contemplate all of life – regardless of length – what are the temptations against which we must guard? And you don’t have to share this answer if you don’t want to, but I wonder what are the temptations against which you find you must also guard?
Debbie, this is a brief response to your very involved question. In short, the primary temptation we must face is the constant prioritization of self over others. Regardless of length, this will be a perennial struggle for humanity.
Hi Chad,
I appreciated you posing this question: “What will the value of your life be, no matter its length?” I have been reflecting on this question since reading the book. What area in your life do you hope to improve in value in this next season?
Thank you for the question, Kari. In this next seaon I hope to improve my balance of work and leisure.