Two Major Landmarks, Cause for Reflection

Happy Birthday to You! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When I was a kid, 40 years old seemed ancient. It doesn’t seem so old anymore. It’s funny, mentally, I swear I’m still in my twenties, and most of the time, physically, I feel like I’m spot on, but there are times (and they’re becoming more frequent), where I know my birthdate is wrong, someone screwed up my birth certificate, my parents lied to me . . . because this must be what fifty feels like.

I think 40 is an age where most people pause to take stock of their life. To reflect on where they’ve been, what they’ve accomplished, and how much more living they want to do. I’ve been doing a lot of this lately.

Looking back I can’t help but feel incredibly blessed and humbled. I have four beautiful daughters, six published books, and beat colon cancer. I’ve been married to a wonderful, loyal, faithful, loving wife for fifteen years (today is our anniversary as well as my birthday). I’m still amazed by how patient and tender Jen was during our battle with cancer. I’ve had the opportunity to work in a field where I touch people’s lives every day. I’ve worked with and met some of the best and most interesting folks you can imagine. And I still wake up every morning anxious to see what the day will hold.

But looking forward is when I feel the anxiety begin to creep in. I’m a restless person by nature, always wanting to push myself, to cover new ground, expand, progress, conquer new challenges, and to me, the future looks fuzzy. And that makes me uncomfortable.

There’s so much more I want to accomplish, so many goals that have yet to be reached, and forty is a reminder that time is running short. Half-time is over and the second half will rush by faster than the first half did.

So where do I go? Well, I set aside my own agenda, my goals, my plans, and follow God’s. After all, my life is his, not my own. He’s calling the shots. I need to align myself with his will, not the other way around. I may not get to do all the things I’d like to but I’ll give my all to the things I am called to do. And every day I’ll continue to pray three things:

• Bless me
• Use me
• Keep me from evil

So to celebrate my birthday and anniversary I’d like to give a way a couple things:

• a signed copy of my latest full-length thriller, FRANTIC,
• and 2 copies of my recently-released novella, REARVIEW.

All you have to do is leave a comment below to be entered. This contest will run through Friday night and the winners will be announced on Saturday.