Acts 20:24  "But none of these things move me nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race with joy..."
 
Paul's vision was beyond this world and so ours must be also.  Paul was more than willing to embrace the will of God even though he knew it meant hardship and possible death.  Paul had a father's passion for the Church, so I would imagine that knowing he'd never see them again, must have been very difficult.  But his love of God and a great desire to please Him, compelled Paul to accept and surrender the outcome of his life and ministry to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Can we say the same?  We come to crossroads in our lives that cause us to choose how we will finsh our "race".  My hope is to choose to finish with this same joy and not count my life dear to myself.  In other words, I surrender the outcome of my life, relationships, ministry and influence to the keeping of the Almighty, who is more than able to handle it all (even without my input  :)
 
Have a great day.........Pam McSharry