Thursday, June 7, 2007

40

Today I am 40.

Quite honestly, I'm not sure what to think.

40 is not old! But it is kinda weird! I remember being a teenager and knowing more than a handful of people that never thought I would make it to 30. Should I be proud that I am even beyond that?

There is certainly nothing to be sad about or worried or depressed! I don't understand those reactions. Anyone of us could have died at anytime. I may not make it to 41 so why be down about being 40?

I have to admit that I am having a mid-life "event". It is not a crisis by any means. I am not regretting anything. Yes, there are things I would do differently but this mid-life "crisis" is more of a, i'm not sure what to call it. Evaluation. Evaluation seems so cold.

It's just that I want to do it right! I want to live every day as a day that really counts. I want to be better as a husband, father, RN and friend. I want to be a better self. I want to live as God intends me to live. But I don't mean this in any kind of societal status, pressure, matrix or rage against the machine type of success.

I mean real success. The kind of success that shows when you are loving your enemy as easily as your friend. The kind of success that means you are generous without a second thought. The kind of success when you recognize the log in your eye rather than the dust particles in the eyes of others (Luke 6:41).

The kind of success that shows I take all the above teachings seriously, every day, even with the suspicion that I'll have plenty of time to practice cuz I'm going to be around in my 90's.

Hmmm, we'll see.

To be a little less serious;
For several reasons, I am sure that this next decade is going to be my best yet!

* I will be in my best shape ever, mostly due to the fact that I will have raced in dozens and dozens of triathlons (and of course trained for them). I will also realize the benefits (more energy, etc) of being in good physical shape that help the the rest of the reasons below come to fruition.

* I will have a whole decade of loving my wife more and more every day.

* I will help and watch 3 kids grow into their teens including 1 into the 20's.

* I will have a full decade of realizing that I and everyone of you are of infinite worth.

* I will have a full decade of understanding what a covenant relationship is; with God, with my small group, with my church and with new friendships/relationships that are sure to develop.

* I will have a full decade of charity with time, money and self to those that require it. I will understand even more what it means to serve.

* I will be fortunate enough to be an RN for another decade. To have a job that makes a living, and requires me to serve those who truly need it, is an amazing blessing.

* I will have a whole decade of understanding how to be a good steward of money. I will have no credit card debt well before the end of this next decade.

* I will be smarter, better looking, in better shape and mostly more humble ;-)


Life is worth living!

Every day!

No matter what your age!



Live and Love!,

Tim

2 comments:

  1. Happy birthday Tim!

    I did something similar on my 40th birthday what with the screeching halt to my life that I was saddled with several days before....it seems a good time as any to evaluate where the rest of our life should go. It sounds like you have the right idea.

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  2. Happy Birthday to you!!!!! What a great outlook you have!

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