Today I celebrated another birthday. I woke up this morning happy – feeling healthy, grateful for so many things, people and blessings. I sang, laughed and prayed this morning. My birthday is off to a great start.
I think back to a year ago today. My mood was similar. I’d just crossed a professional milestone. I felt cared for and supported – blessed! Friends, colleagues and family made sure to make me smile. My cup and my heart runneth over.
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So, from year to year not much has changed. Also, a gift – a blessing!
That may be the headline but it’s far from the whole story. In between my birthdays I’ve survived some of my toughest days… and celebrated some of my best.
Seemingly, as soon as the candles blew out last year the attacks came. Physical challenges, financial restrictions, shelter uncertainty, and character assassination. Back-to-back and simultaneous. Cloaked and masked. In my face and lurking in the shadows. How? Why?
Dark and cloudy became the days. How did I get here? Where am I going? What am I doing? Fight through? Sit still? Listen or scream?
Yet. Behind the clouds the sun shone through, and the moon was extra bright. Wife, kids, and family brought joy with their achievement and growth. Professional and academic wins for them. Presence and play; alignment with purpose and amazement at acceleration – they picked up the slack and held my back. Quietly – a tissue in my hand. Modestly – a trip to get ice cream, a note on the counter, or just a text message at the right moment. Directly – another point of view, a push to write and dream, a (literal) kick in the pants. Each showing a raw kind of tenacity and steady confidence that is more often the role that I play.
Old Friends showed up consistently – wowing me with well-placed with words of encouragement and acts of support. And acquaintances became new friends – insisting that they stay close and often unknowingly sharing the right word, the right joke, the right insight, or the right opportunity at just the right moment.
When I might have wanted to be down, the vibe around me wouldn’t permit it (for long). I couldn’t help but know that there were richness and goodness and righteousness in the midst of this storm that was raging.
So now I’ve made it another 365 days. A quiet solo celebration last night, experimenting and learning that Cohiba and my Uncle make a good pair in the cool evening air. This morning, I awake, and the sun is high – not a cloud in the sky. A smile on my face, off to the church house to give thanks for all I’ve been given – blessings both dark and bright, to ask for forgiveness for the many mistakes I’ve made, and to pray for joy, strength, wisdom and courage to face another year.
Happy birthday to me!