April 2, 2007

• Birth

  Day

  Birth

  Day

  Birthd

  ay

  Birthday!

  Actually, I’m not like most folks who seem discontented with birthdays once they are considered ‘an adult’. I believe Paul said something about being content with whatever state he is in- and I think that applies to my age. Whether I am 23, 25, 28, 30, 35, 40… whichever, I’m happy to be where I am at because I’ll never be here again, there is always someone who wishes they were here where I am, and it’d be really sad to live life in constant discontent and yearning for what I am not.

  More than that, I really don’t see a need to be discontent. I see the potential for more good things in the future, and regret for past misuse of time merely encourages me to use my present time better. Maybe it also has something to do with growing up with older parents- quite honestly, my present age doesn’t really seem that old. It’d be kind of mean for me to say so, because how would that make people who are older feel? “Arrogant young sot” is probably something close to it.

  I am proud to say that I am:
  
  

  27

  I’m actually looking forwards to 30. As a guy, that seems to me to be a nice even age. And when I’m 40, I’ll be in full swing as a Dad… Conor will be, wow, around fourteen or fifteen then!! Of course that doesn’t beat my Father-in-law, who was around that age when his Daughter married me!

  And when I’m 50- whoo hoo, I can hope by then I’ll have become a seasoned and mature husband and leader in ministry, and not allowed the difficulties and hurts of time to swell up into bitterness or unforgiveness… or immobility and resistance to change. I know there are hurts ahead- eventually, the first death of someone close to me will happen. First death of an immediate family member, too. Illness, hurt, it’s all part of a sinful world. But there will be birth’s, too- new children, maybe I’ll be blessed by a daughter. New friendships, and new closeness with God.

  And if I don’t live to make it to one of those marks, well, that’ll be fine too- after all, as the Bible says, await His coming with anticipation. There’s the dichotomy of the struggling desires of both wanting more time to bring others to Christ, and yearning for Jesus to come- either for everyone, or as a personal home-visitation.

  So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to MEEEEEE. One year closer to Heaven.

  Ha!

  -Patrick

  • 7:46 am
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