Thursday, February 21, 2008
RUMINATIONS ON 57
I finished reading the novel The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks around midnight just as I turned 57. It is a love story tracing a true love from teen years through Alzheimer's. I read it because a friend said it changed his life as a husband. I think because of the juxtaposition of the reading and the birthday it set me to thinking.
We think of 57 as middle aged and I suppose it is although technically I'm way past the mid-point - not likely to make it to 114. But we mean it more in terms of adulthood so it is probably fair to say this is somewhere in the second half of middle age.
So today I am reflecting on my own true love. Everyone married has a love story, although seldom quite measuring up to a novel. But, without going TMI, mine is pretty good. We knew on our first date that we would be on a marrying track. Not the sort of thing you want to hear from one of your kids, but quite powerful to experience yourself!
Every season of life has its challenges: the finding of yourself in early adulthood, the adjustments of newly married, the birthing and pre-school years, parenting through the school and teen years, launching kids post high school, etc. At 57 there are highlights to anticipate, but one also knows that the nature of the challenges ahead will often be physical as the body begins to rebel against all the use it has had.
Spark's novel is a poignant portrayal of love facing one of the "big"ones toward the end of life. We all need models of the fulfillment of commitment and love in hard times.
So for me 57 is a vantage point from which to be very thankful for many blessings in life and to renew marital love and deepen the spiritual base or footing for the journey ahead. Life is so fascinating because you never "arrive." There is so much more to learn, grow, develop, experience, appreciate, and understand. Keep growing spiritually (relationship with God) and in the relationships closest to you in life. Don't "settle in" and coast downhill from where you are. Go deeper.
We think of 57 as middle aged and I suppose it is although technically I'm way past the mid-point - not likely to make it to 114. But we mean it more in terms of adulthood so it is probably fair to say this is somewhere in the second half of middle age.
So today I am reflecting on my own true love. Everyone married has a love story, although seldom quite measuring up to a novel. But, without going TMI, mine is pretty good. We knew on our first date that we would be on a marrying track. Not the sort of thing you want to hear from one of your kids, but quite powerful to experience yourself!
Every season of life has its challenges: the finding of yourself in early adulthood, the adjustments of newly married, the birthing and pre-school years, parenting through the school and teen years, launching kids post high school, etc. At 57 there are highlights to anticipate, but one also knows that the nature of the challenges ahead will often be physical as the body begins to rebel against all the use it has had.
Spark's novel is a poignant portrayal of love facing one of the "big"ones toward the end of life. We all need models of the fulfillment of commitment and love in hard times.
So for me 57 is a vantage point from which to be very thankful for many blessings in life and to renew marital love and deepen the spiritual base or footing for the journey ahead. Life is so fascinating because you never "arrive." There is so much more to learn, grow, develop, experience, appreciate, and understand. Keep growing spiritually (relationship with God) and in the relationships closest to you in life. Don't "settle in" and coast downhill from where you are. Go deeper.
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There could never be TMI from hearts like yours and Kathy's. So glad you got to go to the pastors' conference and I appreciate Kathy sharing some specifics. Would love to hear more about what you highlighted in your Sunday's coming column March 14. I look forward to your ruminations on The Shack, which I went right out and bought as soon as Kathy told me about it. Thanks for all you do and who you are. You have blessed our lives by sowing seeds from which we continue to gather sheaves. Pat
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