A Big Birthday: 75 Is The New 72

Ok, so now you know. Today I reached a very big age milestone. Seventy-five. I know that some of you are shocked, at least I hope a couple of you are. “Are you kidding me? He doesn’t look a day over 68,” Or better yet, “I thought he was still in his 50’s.”

Well, I do have a new moisturizer that’s killing it, but yes, I’m really 75 years old. I was born three weeks before the 40’s ended. But hey, my birthday year was the beginning of a lot of major milestones in history.

The People’s Republic of China started that year. (Alright, maybe don’t count that one). The National Basketball Association had its inaugural season. (I think LeBron was in high school that year). There was a test in ’49 for the first commercial jet flight which unfortunately was diverted to Atlanta.

Harry Truman, often known as the swearing Baptist (but what Baptist isn’t at some point?) was President and Alben William Barkley was Vice-President who apparently was regularly heard saying, “I was born into a middle class family.”

But hey, gasoline averaged 17 cents a gallon, the minimum wage was 70 cents an hour and you could buy a typical home for about $7400. It was quite a year also being the birth year of Meryl Streep (who didn’t love Out of Africa?), Lionel Richie (could listen to him “All Night Long) and television’s Emmy Awards who I believe gave their first award to NCIS.

And the movie of the year was Samson and Delilah though I am a little discouraged that the producers said the prequel to their movie was the actual Bible version.

Yes, I need a little humor today (and maybe you did, too) though it’s actually been not only a great day but a representation of a now special time of life. Age isn’t really as much about how old we are but rather how much time we have left. And I’m so thankful for the extended years Jackie and I’ve been given along with the wonderful privileges, experiences and most importantly interactions and relationships we’ve enjoyed over the years.

And I know many of you watching this video or reading the blog version were a part of all that. In fact, my sweet wife took the time and effort to contact many in my life from various timeframes of family, work and ministry. And she asked them to write a short email with both congratulations and a story.

She’s not admitting it, but I’m sure several wrote back just one line, “Got nothin’.”

But the other responses were so encouraging, brought back wonderful memories, provided updates since then and made me cry. Jackie put them all together in a booklet with a few  responses added separately that are still coming in. They came from of course Jackie, our kids, other family, students, overseas ministry contacts, church attenders, coworkers and more that I encountered through everyday life experiences.

Each one helped me realize again that I did make a difference, sometimes in ways I didn’t even know about until I read their comments. But I was also reminded that my impact was and still is so much about God’s grace because He used me, a fallen, at times broken vessel, in ways I could have never planned or manipulated to happen.

And the same can be true of us all, no matter our age. We just have to be in a place and make the time and commitment to give ourselves away to Jesus and others He brings our way. I was in “ministry” of sorts all my life but that’s not required to make an impact.

Psalm 92:14 says that the righteous, “Will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” I want that though I’m sure that some old people don’t even buy green bananas anymore.

So out of my three-score and fifteen years of life and memories, let me share  a few lessons learned that you might think about applying to the years ahead of you.

First, don’t wait to do the most important things. Don’t get detoured or stopped by what I call the Someday Syndrome. Use your gifts, live out your passions, spend time with those who mean the most to you in the present not just in planning for the future. Say the things that you want and need to say now, even more than once.

Second, let your Christian faith, your walk with Jesus, be the center of all the parts of your world, not just one of the pieces of life’s pie. I’m thankful that the people who wrote back for my birthday were from numerous arenas of life. I’m trying to keep that multi-faceted focus going for the years ahead. You too have something to pass on to others in your world, your sphere of influence. So start or keep doing it.

Third, anticipate and enjoy every time period of life. Each one will have its challenges, too, but the thrills and joys of life don’t have to diminish or be less important after a certain age. In fact, various studies suggest that the most productive age in human life is 60-70 years old, the 2nd is from 70-80 and the 3rd is from 50-60. And the average age of NOBEL PRIZE winners is 62.

Hmm, I may have missed the deadline on that one, though I’m all for peace.

Even so, yes, I’m now in second place on the productivity chart but with God’s strength and direction, I’m ready to still make a difference and not just watch and wait for the next edition of Survivor or another host on Wheel of Fortune.

My prayers these days mirror Psalm 71:17-18, “Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.”

So thanks for letting me share my heart, my day and a lesson or two with you the last few minutes. I hope my writing and speaking will keep being an inspiration and provide a little humor for the tough days. So many of you are an incredible encouragement to me. Thank you.

And by the way, while I’m 75 years old in the U.S., with the exchange rate, I’m only 53 in Canadian years. I’m good as long as I can find my meds.