This will be a really big year for me. Well, I don't know if the year will be really big but there is at least ONE day in February that will be really big... that's the day I turn 50. There. I've said it. JOHN'S TURNING 50! So I said to Donna the other day...hummm, I've been on this planet for 50 flippin' years! That is a really long time.
It's funny - I don't feel like I've been on this planet for 50 years. Well, I guess I do kinda feel like that. My knees hurt sometimes when I walk up stairs...I've got to be really careful that I don't blow my back out, my hearing stinks, I have bi-focals, I love to take naps. So maybe I do have the symptoms of being 50 but in my mind I don't feel that old.
I'm reading Donald Miller's book called "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years." In the book he talks about how we only remember little snapshots of our lives; usually the milestones or triumphs or tragedies. Sure, I can remember Mrs. Claytor, my 4th grade teacher at Voris Elementary in Akron. She had to be close to 90 and walked all hunched over with a cane. Everyone was terrified of her. I had a 33.33 chance of having Mrs. Claytor or one of the other two 4th grade teachers, and low and behold, I cracked open my report card envelope at the end of my 3rd grade year in anticipation of who my teacher would be next year...imagine my dismay when I saw her name. The thing is though, I don't remember much else about my 4th grade year. Same with 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th...see what I mean? We only remember (as Donald Miller says) little snapshots of our lives.
His point in the book is to live every day as significant and memorable - to write a story with our lives. Is your life a story worth telling? Are you making a difference? Are you building into someone else's life? Are you making your kids, your spouse or coworkers feel valued? Are you sharing and showing unconditional love to those who don't look or believe the way you do? I need to ask myself these questions as I look at my 50 years on this planet and consider the time I have left.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Philippians 2:3-4
Wow, I wish I could live out the verses above for the remainder of my time here - that could be a life lived with significance.
What do you think? I'd love to hear your responses.
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The culture of today's society sometimes makes it very difficult to keep the focus on the real gift of each day that is given to us. I too (believe it or not) have seen the 50 milestone. And when it is my time, I would like to know that in some small ways, I have touched others or made a positive contribution. As I am reminded-IT IS NOT ABOUT ME-BUT ABOUT GOD. So all I do (I hope) is for His praise. I am confident John-that you will have made many many positive impacts in this world. So I guess we just keep trying and taking one step at a time! Thanks for the scripture to help remind us.
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