Birth Pangs

Today, I get to celebrate my 69th birthday.

I’ve had a lot of birthdays so far, but this is the first time it reached 69. It’s the last one I will ever have in the 60’s. Next one apparently begins with a 7. (Makes a man wonder just how high that number will go.)

As I sat quietly in the predawn darkness on the couch with my Labradoodle Judah beside me graciously letting me rub his belly with one hand, while I carefully nurtured a fresh coffee in the other, I began to reflect on something.

My wife was still sleeping but had left a beautiful card on the coffee pot, another in the fridge by the cream, a third one near Judah’s wipes (apparently from him) and a 4th one to come when she got up.

It reinforced the random thought I had the other day when I told the Lord that having the gift of my amazing wife, easily trumps winning the biggest lottery jackpot in history.

Money can buy a lottery ticket, and maybe win the jackpot, but money cannot buy love. Not the kind that I have with Judy. It’s the real deal, and has no monetary equal.

As I sat there thinking of what I am thankful for, I saw the planet Earth floating in space and I was looking at this beautiful place we all call home.

As I looked, it occurred to me, the infinitesimal amount of detail and planning that went into creating this beautiful planet. The grandeur of the mountains, the inexplorable depths of the ocean floors with creatures great and small.

There are the valleys and fields and pastures and forests and streams so clear you can drink right out of them, some teaming with fish, while others racing through ravines seem to joyously roar through the otherwise serene setting.

And God made all this.

Think of the attention to detail. That tells you something!

And He did this for you and for me.

So today, as I reflected on this magnificent place we call home, I thanked Him from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to come here, to be here, to transact life here.

What an awesome privilege we all have to be allowed on this planet hurtling through space at 67,000 miles per hour around the sun, while the solar system as a whole orbits the Milky Way at 490,000 miles per hour, while we head towards the constellation of Leo at 828,000 miles per hour.

What a ride we’re all on!

It’s the ride that every angel wishes for. It’s the ride that the sons of God rejoiced about in Job 38:7.

But it is OUR ride. OUR privilege.

While on this short ride, why gripe about traffic or politics or finances or anything? We’re on the most thrilling ride God ever made and most of us don’t even notice.

Well today, I noticed.

And thanked God for the ride and for the opportunity to leave something for future generations should He tarry in His return.

Sure, there are afflictions.

Paul called them our “light afflictions” that “work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory“. I may not fully understand what that is, but I’m content to accept that and direct my focus and attention on the Lord and His goodness.

Today I celebrate the privilege of being on this beautiful blue marble in space for 69 years so far, knowing that even this is not our final home. But when I leave here some day, there will be no complaints on my lips. Only praise for His inestimable goodness.

And between now and then, I will with God’s great assistance, help as many people as I can, to discover our loving Father, His Son Jesus and the great Counsellor in the context of business and life, who loves us more than we will ever live long enough to fully comprehend.

And because my heart is so full of gratitude as I write this blog, let me also say thank you for sharing some of your journey with me and for your support. Your words of encouragement and your proactive ways you spread the word, are greatly appreciated.

Much love and peace to you!