Birthday Blues

Today has the potential of being a sad day for my brother and my sister.

Why? It is their birthday today! They are twins, born just 6 minutes apart...and that monumental event occurred just over a half century ago. Try to wrap your mind around that for a moment. What were you doing over a half century ago on this date? I was not even born, so I cannot answer my own question!

How can a birthday turn blue? Well, when you are as old as my bro and sis, you may be tempted to think and talk more about subjects and people 'back in the day'. You can have more memories than possibilities. My father sometimes relates life to a game of golf. He says that at this stage of life, its like 'chipping up to the 18th green'. In other words, you are about to make it to the 'Clubhouse'. Try to wrap your mind around that analogy!

The Wisdom Writer understood the impact of birthdays...

"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them'." Ecclesiastes 12:1

King Solomon then paints quite a Rembrandt of the physical, emotional and mental realities of aging. He describes the the 'losses' that years exact upon the aged. Loss of sight, teeth, hearing, appetite, courage, adventure, libido, hair, muscle not to mention circulation and mobility form quite a reality check! The carelessness of youth gives way to the realization of the fact that life can be tough and time is a gift. He goes on to appraise all the pursuits of life that beforehand seemed so essential to the ripped of abs of Generation Now...

"Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!" Ecclesiastes 12:8

The core interpretation of this exclamation is 'Empty', or 'Void', or 'Futile'. In other words, life apart from God is absolutely and completely without meaning, value or merit...no matter the fulfilled accomplishments, the raised champagne glasses, the Mediterranean excursions, the sexual conquests, the Wall Street accolades, or the completion of your 'Bucket List'. As Bill Murray says to his Commanding Officer in 'Stripes', 'That's the fact, Jack!' Mark it down...a life apart from God can be evaluated but not celebrated.

One of the subtle illnesses of being young is to forget that you are aging. As time slips by, the Evil One convinces you that you can recover lost opportunity...later. Yet, remembering God from your younger days launches you into a life of perpetual realization of His activity all around you. Your body may be terminal, but you live for Someone who promises a glory beyond your wrinkles.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is unseen. For what is seen in temporary, but what is unseen is not." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"My kingdom is not of this world. But now, my kingdom is from another place." John 18:36

When He is your King, being subject to Him is a blessing and a benefit in the here and now and the here to come. Rather than bemoaning the emptiness of life in retrospect, you rejoice in the fullness of being perfectly satisfied in Him. After all...you have tasted His grace and witnessed His greatness for many years. Birthdays need not be daunting. Instead, they become markers of the history of His might and favor upon you, provided in faithful attention toward you as He is the God of your yesterdays, todays and forevermores!

So, 'Happy' Birthday, Dan! 'Happy' Birthday, Lori! Although you are in Orlando and Philly while I am here in KC, I am rejoicing over you today! I am celebrating the fact that together, we were introduced to Christ as young teens. It took a while for each of us to navigate into His grace, but the seed of remembering His drawing us to Himself began when we shared life together as kids. The paths that He has taken us have separated us only for a time...but not for eternity! Thank you both for giving me a boatload of memories. Thank you Father for the lavish blessing of allotting us our younger years together that we may now reflect and celebrate Your divine movement in each of our lives soon to be reunited in You!

In this Botox Generation where birthdays are liabilities, determine to 'redeem the time' moment by moment as you look forward to your personal presentation into His Royal Court. As long as you are breathing, you can encourage, bless and lift up those around you for His honor. As long as you are breathing, enjoy your Creator and Redeemer. Get to know Him well. You will be in His presence forever...with a new body and as a member of His New Heaven.

Cool stuff!