BIRTHDAY RUMINATIONS OF AN "OLD MAN"

1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17; Romans 2: 1-24; Psalm 10:16-18; Proverbs 19:8-9

“Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were someone very great, O Lord God!
 What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like. For the sake of your servant, O Lord, and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known.
 O Lord, there is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!”

“Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”

“To acquire wisdom is to love oneself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.”

Today is a great day to give thanks. Fifty-two years ago, I was unceremoniously yanked from my mother’s womb and entered a strange, enormous world with which I was completely unprepared to deal. But my parents understood. They nurtured and protected me when I was too young and weak to protect myself. They taught me how to get along in the world, and they introduced me to God in all His forms. They made sure I was provided for, and that I grew socially as well as physically and emotionally. I have never doubted their love or the intensity of their desire that I reach my full potential. They pushed me beyond what I thought were my limits because they saw abilities and gifts which would have never been discovered had I been left to my own devices.

Eventually, love came in a different form. I was at an outdoor sorority summer mixer, and there was this one girl on the volleyball court actually playing instead of (you should pardon the expression) just bouncing around for the guys. It wasn’t that she was overly competitive; what drew my eye was just that she wasn’t afraid to sweat. From that day to this, my sweet wife has never taken herself too seriously; she’s never overly worried about “appearances;” and she has always been God’s example to me of a humble and compassionate heart. She is absolutely the best Mom my kids could ever have hoped for! In a very real way, she filled gaps in all of us we never knew we had. She has also fixed things in me I was all too aware of but had no intention of changing. She has made me a better, more complete person than I could ever have imagined or had any hope of becoming on my own.

Then came the kids. Three lights of my life, each one is unique and as uniquely gifted as a diamond. Each one needed parental “polishing,” to be sure. Still, I think it fair to say Mom and I never forgot the gifts they are. We have understood from the start that God just gave them to us for a season. We are awed and grateful simply to have the blessing of being His hands, His grace, His provision and His comfort to three of His children He loves even more than we do. Each of our kids understands their parents aren’t perfect. But they also know Christ’s love perfects all, and that it starts in the heart. We all get that the Spirit’s love and forgiveness must be the center of our family if we really expect to be able to share and spread the Good News in a way that can be heard in the world.

Today, I leave for a three day ski trip with my two adult sons. (Sissy’s on Spring Break, too, but she’s staying home with Mom for some “girl” time.) Pretty cool the “kids” still want to be with their parents. Even cooler that my youngest actually asked me to go skiing, and is willing to suffer the indignity of having to watch his Old Man struggle down the blue slopes when he could so easily cruise the black slopes on his own or with his brother.

Once again, I wonder if my family isn’t bringing me the Gospel in a nutshell. Sure, God could get along without us. We struggle so much. We are so inept, clumsy and just generally inefficient: there must be a better way to accomplish the Divine Purpose. But Jesus stays right there with us, wherever we go. The Holy Spirit just will not give up on us. When we choose our own path, he allows us to separate, but He never takes His eyes off us and is always ready to circle back and help us to our feet when we get stuck in the snow. He rejoices at our triumphs and weeps with us through adversity. But most important, Christ is steadfastly there with His invitation for us to join Him, to take a chance on the higher, more challenging slopes, and if we are attentive, He will even share a few mountain secrets that will help us over the course.

I need no gifts today. I have been surrounded by gifts of love and grace my entire life. As important as family has been, there have also been a host of friends willing not just to love me unconditionally but to hold me accountable and even correct me when necessary. I thank the Lord for each one of them. Each has presented me with a living example of Christ I will never forget. Every one has helped smooth off some rough edge to help me become the example of the Father my real Daddy (Abba) has always intended. I’ve still got a long way to go, of course, but I rejoice in knowing I do not make the journey alone!

Many folks waste a lot of time and frustration looking for God too high up and too far away. It has been a tremendous blessing to me that I have never had to look for Him much beyond my own backyard. I know, without doubt or reservation, that He has given His own very Self to me. He has done it in more ways and through more people than I ever thought possible. There’s simply nothing else I need or really even want for my birthday, or any day.