Older, but definitely not dead!

Hey Friends!

Today is my birthday and it is the strangest birthday I have ever had.  I am married, I have graduated from college, and my mom and dad are hundreds of mils from here.  Now I have had birthday’s when I was dating meagan (and I knew we would be married), I have had birthdays in college (hoping I would graduate), and I have had birthdays apart from my parents, BUT this one feels so weird because it is like I am an actual adult and I realize why people want to do childish things on their birthday, because you miss that anticipation of a stupid song and cake.  Now I have a great evening planned with friends, but the pinnacle of tonight is laughter and stories about days gone by.  The theme of birthdays  - at least when you live at home and worry about homework and if your teacher’s will be nice the next day – can be found in the the apex, the precipice, the mountaintop moment of joy when a cake with candles (hopefully trick) is brought out of whatever kitchen is present and everyone you know (and that matters in this world) sings you happy birthday in the most god-awful key you can imagine.  

Now I realize that as you get older everyone that matters might not be able to be in the same room to sing you that song and that is pretty darn sad!  But I don’t want to be a debbie downer, I just realized that there are new ways to look at birthday’s and that now the point isn’t the cake or the presents, but the people around them that matter o so much!

so on this day of OLD growth how about wisdom from some young folks?  In my last post I wasted time with an awesome forward.  Well I took that and transformed it into a youth lesson for us to share at church.  Here are some responses.

I fear: Jellyfish (9th grader)
I miss: being loved (senior) 
I wonder: how ants feel being 500 times smaller than me (a pretty tiny senior)
I care: about everyone (8th grader)
I hate: when I can’t find something then I find it when I don’t need it (a frustrated 7th grader)
I love: sisters ( a beautifully sweet junior)
I always: watch tv (a really honest 6th grader)
I wish: I had more time (a wise 8th grader)
I never: cuss (8th grader)
I hate: gas prices (a non-driving 10th grader)
I don’t always: ride my bike with no handlebars: (a rambunctious 9th grader)
I have: much more compared to people in other parts of the world (a very perceptive and wise 7th grader)

Nothing like reading the words of students to know that this is the great job in the world.  I love my students.  

peace to you

current itunes track:  Can’t Complain, Nickel Creek, Why Should the Fire Die?

currently reading: just finished up Postmodern Youth Ministry, Tony Jones

currently watching: The office, Season 4 (i am addicted…)