It All Started With My Birthday

It all started with my birthday. My actual birth day. The day I was born. Ever think about that day? For some of us, it is so long ago. For others of us, it was just around the corner, almost like yesterday. I might not be like some of you out there who just say that "Oh, it's just another day." I like to celebrate my life. The day I was born. Now, I know some of you reading this might say, "This guy is off his rocker." And even though you might be right to some degree, just hang in there with me and let me finish. The day that each and every one of us was born is a special day. At the very least it should be special to you, if no one else. I mean, think about it. If you didn't have a birthday, you wouldn't be here. I know that sounds simplistic, but too often we don't stop and think about that. What if we had never been born? George Bailey found out in the movie "It's A Wonderful Life." We just don't have a clear idea how many people we touch with our lives on a daily basis. I have had some dark times in my life, where I really wasn't sure my life mattered, to me or to others. But then I think of the influence that each of us has on at least one person, but usually more, in our lives, it makes things at worst case tolerable and best case an adventure.

Yes I am aware that the format for this blog changed a bit today, but I had MY birthday yesterday. So, even though those around me weren't that thrilled about acknowledging the fact that I was born, I had my own little party within my heart all day. I just smiled all day, and was very grateful to God that I had been born, and that I have lived my life for...a number of years. Made mistakes? You bet. Want to go back and change somethings? Absolutely. Can I possibly do that? Not a chance. I try to stress to my children as they get older the importance and the impact of the decisions they are making now, and how they are far reaching, to say the least. What about all those words we have said out of anger? Out of hurt? What about those moronic decisions we made to use that person in our past? I was reading a fantasy novel, and the scene was these large black bats taking bites out of the body of the main character. I thought to myself, "Regardless of how fantastic fiction can be, it 'ain't nothin' compared to the real thing, baby." I have had people backbite and back stab for as long as I have been a pastor, and actually, I think I would rather have the physical one because it will heal more quickly. I got a birthday card from someone who doesn't know me that well but thinks they do, and it said some cursory things about not wanting me to get caught up in materialism so all they got me was the card. Wow. Here I am celebrating my life and they are telling me how cheap they are and how little they think about me. Real life really IS stranger than fiction...at least AS strange.

So here I am, the day after my birthday. Yes, it all passed just like any other day. But at least for one day, one moment, it made me stop and reflect on some things, and on the graciousness of God. And the fact that there is at least one person in the universe who loves and cares for me. And that is a good thing.

Rod Ewing is the Pastor of Calvary Chapel Ocala.