I am very suspicious of simplistic formulas. Take this pill and you will lose 20 pounds in a week. Buy this program and you will be fluent in Spanish in a matter of months. Spread this on your lawn and you will be an instant nominee for yard of the year in your community. And the list goes on… But I heard a simplistic formula a funeral yesterday that actually made sense.

The person eulogizing Roy Castles, who died just weeks before his 80th birthday, made a very compelling observation. Roy lived by this rule of life: A person is successful in life; if he uses the gift God gave him to love other people. That is a simplistic formula indeed, but I think Roy was on to something.

I have my days when I look at the outward success of my peers, and I wonder where my train derailed? They are investing their money wisely. They are driving Escalades, and living in sprawling homes. They are playing golf with the clubs that I drooled over this afternoon at the sporting goods store. Outwardly they are successful.

Some of my friends are already anticipating retirement. They started their careers right out of college, and so now they are approaching the 25 or 30 year milestones with the organizations that have employed them during that time period. Retirement can be a reality by age 50 for some people. They are ready to start a second career. I see that a sign of success, and question the vocational choices I have made over the past 26 years.

Roy was on to something. There is no doubt it. When it comes time for my funeral, it won’t make any difference what kind of vehicle is parked in the garage. In fact, what if I don’t have a garage? That too is of absolutely no consequence. And what about that wonderful pension I am missing, as I approach age 50 in the not so distant future? I need to be working. I would get into too much mischief, if had a lot of time on my hands.

Roy figured out at least one of the secrets to success. He used the gift God gave him to love others. Roy was a mentor. That was his gift. Two people who were deeply touched by his influence spoke of his obvious love for them. One of them was a man who came to Texas from Vietnam in the 1970’s. Roy took him in his home and treated him like a son during that time period. The other man worked for Roy in a traditional dime store many years ago. Son-in-laws and grandchildren conveyed the same message during the service. He had mentored them in a spirit of love. Roy made an indelible impression on each of their hearts.

Roy Castle’s success formula is pretty simplistic, but I am having a hard time rebutting the value of it. Perhaps there is more inherent value to simplistic conclusions about life than what I once thought. I am ready to put it into action. I am eager to use the gift God gave me to love other people. I think I will start tomorrow! But wait a minute… What is my gift? There is my assignment for the week. It may be an assignment that could take months! I must determine my own giftedness. It is not an impossible task. Roy obviously figured out his giftedness, and I think he was very successful.