Happy Birthday to me! I’ve reached the big 6-0. It’s hard for me to believe I’m sixty years old. As so many people say, “I don’t feel that old.” I really don’t, most of the time, anyway. Over the past week I’ve been reflecting on my fifties, and significant truths I’ve learned and applied in my life, so today, I look forward to this golden decade of life. I read a quote from Bob Biehl recently that said the sixties ought to be one’s most productive decade of life. I’m certainly seeing it that way. While I don’t have the physical capacity to work as I once did, the knowledge and wisdom I’ve accumulated along the way along with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit more than make up for the physical deficits.
More than anything I’m grateful to have the opportunity to live and move and have my being in Jesus Christ, and to be serving Him effectively as I launch into my sixties. Life is a gift and when I was young I often took it for granted. Now, I wake up everyday and thank God for the gift of another day of life. I’m grateful for the Holy Spirit’s constant presence, guidance and direction in my life. I’m grateful for Nancy and enjoy living life together with her more with each passing season of our lives. She and I have always been so opposite in our personalities, but we’ve been hitting our stride in making those differences work together to create a better and better marriage as the days, weeks, months and years pass. I feel sorry for those who gave up on their marriages in the early years or even decades, and never got to enjoy the growing unity that decades together create when God is leading.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to do meaningful work to advance God’s Kingdom, and to do it with a staff of fantastic people who love Jesus and their particular ministries. As we work together the results are so encouraging. Once again, the application of perseverance over time, and following God’s leading is producing a church I’m so glad to be here to experience and help lead.
As we reach various milestones in our lives, they provide us the opportunity and to remember once again that the unexamined life isn’t worth living, regardless of our age. As I reflect on the first sixty years and look forward to the days, months and years ahead, if the Lord wills, I am filled with gratitude for the past and hope for the future. I’m looking forward to waking up to a great many more days of serving Jesus in, through and beyond New Life.
I hope wherever you are on the timeline of your life that you are grateful for God’s work and hopeful for His future in your life. Why not take a moment right now to reflect on where you’ve been and where you’re going? Thank God for all He’s done, and call on Him to fill you anew with the Holy Spirit that you may continue to serve Him well.
Here’s to leading better, by pausing to reflect on where you’ve been and where you’re going–today!