I remember my 30th so well — friends in Searcy gathered at our house in Searcy. And I have great memories of my 40th — family and friends who snuck into Abilene for a special evening at Highland.
So today is my last day of my forties.
Will I be wiser tomorrow? I always figured that I’d be a wiser person by now than I am.
Here are some things that I look for in my fifties:
I want to be a person who learns more the meaning of resting in God’s presence — especially in prayer.
I want to continue exploring scripture’s witness to the gospel — and the gospel’s claims on the people of God and on our world.
I want to keep loving one woman really well.
I want to nurture my children (two sons and a daughter-in-law).
I want to write.
I want to keep my body in shape, even as gravity and time battle against me.
I want to remain connected with friends.
I want to enjoy something in almost every day so that when my fifties end I won’t wonder where they went.
Those are lofty goals, I realize. Mostly today I just want to beat the junior league all-star team from Eagle Pass, TX!
- - - -
All right, so the trip to Waco hasn’t been perfect. The first game didn’t exactly go as we’d planned, losing 15-1. (There, I’ve said it.)
But there have been some great moments.
This tournament is run first-class. People who like kids and baseball running everything — from the tournament director to the people selling water. And the umps? They’re volunteer. Yes, v-o-l-u-n-t-e-e-r. I just talked to one of them at the hotel breakfast nook and he said it costs him about $350 to come call these games.
Also, this morning my bike and I went on the Tour de Waco. This is a city with lots of beauty! The tour included a roll through Baylor, which I’d never really seen before. What an incredible campus. I was inspired by riding around the George Truett Theological Seminary and reading about his life. And I loved that the most amazing building was the science building. There’s some kind of statement there, isn’t there? We aren’t afraid of the sciences. We aren’t afraid, because God is the creator of all that is — even if we don’t comprehend all his ways.
The best part was that yesterday we passed by Church Under the Bridge. (See www.churchunderthebridge.org.) I’d read about this church that was started by some Baylor students, but it was so inspiring to go by and see all the people meeting there under I-35.
Happy birthday, Mike. At the ripe old age of 52, I can tell you what that feels like. I always thought I would have made it. I would have been at the top of Maslow’s pyramid of self-actualization. I would arrived as a Christian. But I still see myself struggling–realizing that I still sin, knowing that I still fall far short of His glory. I am more aware of His grace everyday. His mercy and His goodness are needed more now than when I was in my 20s or 30s or 40s. Perhaps that’s the age-old problem. Thinking you can make it on your own the older you get, but realizing you can’t take one step alone. I feel my dependence grow on God more everyday. To those who are young, that may be discouraging. Then again, it may be an encouragement. Godspeed in Waco. JW
And hope for no kidney stones!!!
The toughest part for me is trying to accept that the physical/athletic skills just aren’t what they used to be.
The best part is knowing that God has given you so much life experience and blessings so that he can work through you in a much more powerful way than ever before.
It’s kind of sad to me that many people in ministry either look to get out around 50 or are considered not so useful or unemployable by many churches. Never in your life have you been more able to do his work!
Peace.
I never had any athletic skills, so I don’t miss ‘em.
And when I turned fifty a year and ten days ago, I discovered the most marvelous thing:
I was only a day older.
You are going to be so old Mike, but most of us won’t hold it against you. Happy early birthday!
Mike,
Sorry your first impression of Waco was not so nice. Glad it got better! Have lived here 14 years, since leaving ACU. Absolutely love it here! Church Under the Bridge is phenomenal! I wish you could hear all the things that Mission Waco and Jimmy Dorrell do for the underprivelidged here in Waco. I attend Crestview Church of Christ - hope to see you here some day. Good luck on the next game!
Carrie
Thanks, Carrie. That wasn’t my first impression of Waco. All of us know that if you’ve been out in 98 degree weather, with 90% humidity working yourself silly, that snap point comes a bit earlier!
Our limited experience in Waco (including the kind folks at the America’s Best Value Inn at I-35 and University Park) has been very positive. Love Baylor. Love the warehouse area a few blocks away that have been turned into restaurants. Love THE TREES!
Here’s the beginning of an insightful article on homelessness written by Jimmy Dorrell. For more of it, go to the Church Under the Bridge website.
Understanding the Honeless
by Jimmy Dorrell
The night lasted forever. Traffic zoomed by amid occasional sirens, honks and backfires. The rocks underneath the sleeping bag seemed to grow larger through the evening. In and out of sleep, rolling over and over in an attempt at a short-term comfortable position. The hours of darkness dripped away so slowly. Finally morning.
The annual “sleep out under the bridge” is a harsh reminder of just a few hours in the life of the homeless. It is a night when those of us who normally sleep in comfort are profoundly reminded of those in our own city, state and nation who have no place to call home. . . .
We’re sitting in our hotel room, getting ready to leave and go take some batting practice. Chris and I have been watching — of course — SportsCenter. And here’s my conclusion: I will never get tired of watching the clip of J-Mac, the young man with autism who entered a game with four minutes left and made six of ten 3-point shots.
That clip has not failed to break me down into a sobbing pile of goo EVERY time I see it. It eclipses any major TV event as far as it’s visual impact on me. Maybe because the other visual impacts (twin towers collapsing, Challenger exploding, Columbine coverage) have all been negative. I can’t really put my finger on WHY that one affects me so much, but it does. Happy early Birthday!
Happy early b-day, Mike. No matter what happens in the game today, I know your trip to Waco and special time with Chris will be something that neither of you will ever forget. Here’s to the next 50 years…
Happy birthday. 50 is in my rearview mirror and dropping further behind. Haven’t had too much time lately to look back as 60 is coming at me. My main goal now is to be the best grandpa to two of the best grandchildren in the world. If God gives me more…all the better.
Another one for ya’, Mike.
Happy early Birthday. May your early birthday present be a win tonight. As far as I’m concerned, your guys have already won the greatest prize - playing the great game of baseball and arriving to this level of playoffs. Congratulations to all of them and to you and your coaches. What a terrific job you’ve done. Could there be any better way to close out your LL coaching career? I think not. As Chris to give you a special birthday hug.
(((((((((MIKE, COACHES AND ESPECIALLY, DA’ TEAM!!))))))))
As my Dad told me when he turned 50, long ago, “It’s hard to believe that my life is nearly 1/3 of the way over…”
I trust that the Lord has much for you to do in your many years left amongst us. To see the way you continue to devote yourself to personal growth and learning is an inspiration to me and I hope that will be as ready to do so when I am 50 (still far away).
Mike -
I don’t think that ANY of your “50’s” goals are lofty at all. I think they are very practical and most doable.
It’s been my experience that with age comes much peace and understanding of life in ways not capable of being understood without some age behind us.
The 50’s were very difficult for me in many ways, but while difficult physically, proved to be the most productive spiritually. It all depends on your perspective, I think. On whether we look at it from our American culture “focus on youth” perspective, which we will never live up to, or from God’s eternal perspective, that we ever, throughout our life, grow into, if we are really seeking and searching His ways.
You’ll find your 50’s most satisfying, I would submit - and hope. In every way in your life.
In the meantime - hope you and Chris and your team will win the big one this evening. Win or lost the game, however, you’ve already succeeded and have by far surpassed your goals as God’s children, father and son and coach.
Happy 50th birthday tomorrow. I don’t even remember mine. 40 seemed awful at the time, but looking back I see that it was just because I did not know all the good that would come ahead and so 50 was just (as many of your commenters have already said) another day.
As far as the game - you and Chris are winners already and don’t even know it.
Happiest Birthday to our PreacherMike! We send you love from far away in Erie, PA. We have thought of you so many times on our trip. How dare you have such a special day while we are gone. We love you so!
Just remember—–50 is the new 40! Right?
Update: We lost tonight, 8-3. Chris started and pitched the first 5 innings. We were ahead 2-1 when he came out after 5. (The one point came AFTER the 3rd out on a dropped strike three.) The guys played much more like a team tonight.
I’m so sorry for the loss. But what an accomplishment just to get there! Congrads and I hope the agony of defeat isn’t too tough on the guys.
Happy Birthday, Mike. Donna and I wish we could have been there to root for you. Congratulations on an amazing journey to state, we know there was alot sacrificed to get there. See you when you return!
Hey, Mike! Happy Birthday from the Montgomery’s. We’ll never forget that cramped room in the old part of Highland (I still miss those mysterious hallways some, even though they probably weren’t all that safe) and the surprise you got on your 40th. And as we approach our middle 40’s it seems that 50 is so YOUNG.
Happy Birthday, Mike. I especially appreciated the goal about reaching your sixties with so many appreciative days in between. I’m three quarters there, and I judge that to be a good goal. Isn’t it funny how the difference between 50 and 57 seems so much smaller than the difference between 10 and 17? May you and yours have many happy returns of the day. Love, Aunt K.