Thursday, February 22, 2007
A BUMMER BIRTHDAY TURNED TO JOY
Birthdays have never been a big deal - whether positively or negatively. I do remember feeling some pangs on my 25th that I was now a "quarter-century old." But yesterday was a bummer. Why should #56 be an issue?
I suppose any psychiatrist worth his salt would note that it was my first birthday after the death of my last parent and that both had died relatively recently (Nov. 2004 and Oct. 2006). It's not that, frankly, I was particularly close to them or miss them on a daily basis. We had never lived nearby and often saw each other only once a year at best.
But it must have been that cosmic thing of having a birthday when all the physical, family connections to that event are gone. The people who gave birth to me have passed. Concerning that Wednesday evening event in Tennessee years ago, I am the only one left. The people intimately connected with my birth day are gone.
So I was bummed. Until...
My wife arranged a surprise dinner with our church home group. We have had a group meet in our home on Wednesday evenings for over 10 years. Even some from earlier years who are no longer part of the weekly event came to the dinner.
Being an introvert, I am not big on parties or being the center of attention. I don't mind speaking on Sunday to a full auditorium, but don't throw a surprise party for me!
However, as people spoke genuine words of appreciation and identified qualities in my life and ministry that touched and made a difference in their lives, I was deeply moved and fulfilled. We go into adulthood, and ministers go into ministry, with certain goals. We also marry and have children with certain goals. It was overwhelming to hear that those goals were being realized and actualized in reality. Wow.
It was a God-thing. That is the only reason my wife would have dared to do this - and she even succeeded in surprising me. Thank you Kathy, kids and home group.
I suppose any psychiatrist worth his salt would note that it was my first birthday after the death of my last parent and that both had died relatively recently (Nov. 2004 and Oct. 2006). It's not that, frankly, I was particularly close to them or miss them on a daily basis. We had never lived nearby and often saw each other only once a year at best.
But it must have been that cosmic thing of having a birthday when all the physical, family connections to that event are gone. The people who gave birth to me have passed. Concerning that Wednesday evening event in Tennessee years ago, I am the only one left. The people intimately connected with my birth day are gone.
So I was bummed. Until...
My wife arranged a surprise dinner with our church home group. We have had a group meet in our home on Wednesday evenings for over 10 years. Even some from earlier years who are no longer part of the weekly event came to the dinner.
Being an introvert, I am not big on parties or being the center of attention. I don't mind speaking on Sunday to a full auditorium, but don't throw a surprise party for me!
However, as people spoke genuine words of appreciation and identified qualities in my life and ministry that touched and made a difference in their lives, I was deeply moved and fulfilled. We go into adulthood, and ministers go into ministry, with certain goals. We also marry and have children with certain goals. It was overwhelming to hear that those goals were being realized and actualized in reality. Wow.
It was a God-thing. That is the only reason my wife would have dared to do this - and she even succeeded in surprising me. Thank you Kathy, kids and home group.
