If You’re Not Dead, You’re Not Done

If You’re Not Dead, You’re Not Done

By Elisa Morgan

Over the past twenty plus years, I’ve spoken this phrase: “If you’re not dead, you’re not done” from platforms, in private conversations and in small groups. Every time – just about – someone resonates. My contemporaries nod in sage acknowledgement. Those younger than me pucker their eyebrows and ponder. Those just budding in years cheer, applaud the presentation of an older woman wearing “purple wisdom.”

I’ve said the words in so many contexts to so many variations of humans. Now it’s time for me to live them.

I’m not dead, so I’m not done. Not with everything. But I am done with some things. How do we know the difference?

I knew I was done serving as dean of women at a Bible College when my husband and I received the news we’d be at the top of the list for adoption. I was clear that I wanted to be present to bond with my newborn little stranger so I didn’t renew my annual contract. That we endured another near year of waiting couldn’t have been predicted. But I knew the chapter at the college was over.

Five or six years later, I received a call to apply to be the first president of the grassroots movement of moms, MOPS International (now The MomCo Global). After a LOT of prayer and doubled-up therapy sessions, I sensed God’s call and my husband I stitched together a creative coverage plan of mainly the two of us augmented by a mother and teen daughter team for the blank spots in our schedules. No way was my mothering assignment “over” but it morphed a bit. It still morphs today!

Then twenty years later, it became clear in my heart that I was to move out of leadership at The MomCo to make way for the next generation of leaders. The CEO season was over.

In the midst of all this, I was the chief caregiver for my brother as he awaited a liver transplant for a five-year stretch. Recruiting and then managing a local team in his area of California from my area of Colorado was a near full-time job. He could not care for the smallest area of his life. Today, two years out from his transplant, we talk a few times a week as he has his life up and running on his own. That caregiving season is done.

Slugging through the unclear season of moving from muchness to not-so-muchness, I’ve stumbled into various roles: speaking, writing, board work and then landing at Our Daily Bread Ministries with two podcasts (Discover the Word and God Hears Her), a video series and devotional writing. For nearly fifteen years I traveled back and forth to Grand Rapids, Michigan to connect, record and learn how to lead “up” as I was just a contractor with a small voice and yet much experience.

As 2026 closes, both podcasts have recorded their last episode. I’ll still write for Our Daily Bread, but that is all that is on my professional plate at the moment. I complete sixteen-years of service on the board of trustees for Denver Seminary in November.

Some things are done. For sure. So, am I? Done?

I’ve been processing the future of this email and blog, along with Really Blog Manager, Carla Foote, and graphic designer, Eryn Adkins. It’s been a joy – a calling – to have a place to share our own musings. It’s been sacred to share the writings and discoveries of other women leaders and authors – some of whom have never before been published. This priority has shaped our blogs and provided much-needed content for our memes and shares.

While I’m not done (because I’m not dead), we’ve concluded that Really will end at the end of 2026. You’ll still be able to access past blogs from elisamorgan.com but we will not publish new ones.

What will I do now – since I’m not dead? (Or at least I’m not dead as of the writing of this blog…) My husband worries: bored Elisa is not pretty.

Here’s what I’m thinking at the moment:

• I have several friends struggling with dementia and other near-the-end-of-life issues. I’m visiting them. I’ll continue to be present. I’ll help them do things they still want to do but can’t do by themselves. I’ll consider how they must not be done because they are not dead and see how I can help them continue.

• I’ll keep connecting with those who express that they value my “older-wiser” perspective (Ha!) – when really - I’m the one who benefits the most from their lively lives and discoveries.

• I’ll listen carefully to any invitations that come my way through the grid of “is this opportunity for me or is it for someone I know?” I’m learning that I’m not the stopping point for many requests, but rather the connector.

• I already adopted a dog. A puppy this time. Her lifespan predicts a fifteen-year-run. So instead of taking the stance of “she’s already in her own routine” that I did with my prior older adopted dogs, I’ll train myself to train her so that when we are older, people actually want to be around us both.

• I’ll spend time with God. Nothing fancy here. Just the same reading the Bible and prayer-walking I’ve been doing for a lifetime.

• I’ll open myself up to each day with “what’s happening and who might need me?” A 100-year-old woman I admire who might need a visit in her nursing home? My daughter-in-law wrestling her three and one-year-old boys into her full-time work life? My brother in a phone call, my adult grandson wanting to come for dinner, my single-mom daughter trying to get her car in for service, my neighbor who just had surgery? Who might need me and when?

• I’ll understand that in this different season, my marriage focus will be more of helping and serving than its previous partnership for ministry. We will both have physical limitations (my husband has a few manageable diminishments now but I will also inevitably face some) so I will draw my attention to needs that no one else can meet. I WILL be loving and patient.

• I’ll watch for God to surprise me with an assignment or an adventure. Traveling? Painting? Achieving my secret ambition to voice an animated character? Working out (probably not…) but at least continuing to walk daily? Teaching a Bible Study?

Then there are a lot of “I might’s”:

• I might go back over all the learnings from the class on aging I took five years ago – and the notes from the small group of women I met there who still meet together. And maybe write on it for others coming along and behind me. (Let me know if you think this might be helpful please?)

• I might learn to knit.

I’m remembering my grandmother, Munna, who had a stroke at age 90 and was bedridden until her death at nearly 92. She couldn’t speak and only had use of one arm. When my sister, brother and I went to visit her for what we imagined would be the last time, she took hold of one of our hands and placed it on her chest, patting it in place. Then she reached for another hand and put it on top of the prior, and then the third, patting the three hands of her grandchildren in connection.

We looked at each other and absorbed her unspoken but very clear message. You belong to each other. Stay connected.

She wasn’t dead…so she wasn’t done. Even in that condition, Munna ministered.

I don’t know what the rest of my days will hold. But I’m not planning to settle for being bored, Evan. (smile)

Because if I’m not dead, I’m not done.

Author’s Note: Today’s Really Blog will be my last. Carla and Eryn will also share their ending thoughts in November. Then in December we will rerun some Christmas fan-favorites to bless your season. Thank you for journeying with us, for the many notes you’ve sent and for the love and prayers over the last eleven years! It’s been a stretching joy to live life really together!

The God Hears Her podcast archives will remain active. You can also listen to Discover the Word and the rich library of topics we have covered over the years.

Let's stay in touch on social media - I'm on Facebook and Instagram. I'll keep posting pics of Glory (my pup) and life, along with an occasional thought or two.

Elisa Morgan's latest book is Fruitful Living. She is the cohost of the podcast, God Hears Her. She is also the cohost of Discover the Word and contributor to Our Daily Bread. Her other books include Christmas Changes Everything, You are Not Alone, When We Pray Like Jesus, Hello, Beauty Full, and The Beauty of Broken. Connect with Elisa @elisamorganauthor on Facebook and Instagram.