I’m in a reflective mood today, but my heart is filled with thankfulness today as I reach a milestone in my life.

At 40, I Am Grateful For Grace, Family, And The Road Ahead

My days of being called a “young man” are officially over, for today I turn 40 and begin my fifth decade of life. As I look back on the prior decades, I’m humbled by how the years have flown by but grateful for the tremendous blessings I have enjoyed during that time.

I wrote about my upcoming birthday in January and set several goals for myself. I’m working toward those goals each day, though progress is not as rapid as I’d like…the story of life. More importantly than the physical fitness regimen, I work daily to order my priorities in a way that recognizes I am no longer a child: that I have a wife, kids, and a profession to carefully steward. My prayers echo the words of Moses in Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

I’m thankful for the many opportunties I’ve experienced over the last decade, the many nations I have visited, the personal growth I’ve experienced in my profession and relationships (sometimes in the most painful of ways), and for a Christian faith that has grown more resilient as it has been tried and tested. I’m thankful for the people that have been placed into my life and while I woke up this morning singing, “When morning gilds the sky, my heart awaking cry: May Jesus Christ be praised!” (originally a German hymn called Beim frühen Morgenlicht), a line from the hymn Amazing Grace now comes to mind:

“Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.”

We live in an uncertain time and the future is not ours to see. Even so, the lectionary reading yesterday at church included Romans 8:38-39, in which St. Paul writes, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I rest on that promise and take great solace in it.

My kids are in Germany with their grandparents, so it was just Heidi and me last night…we had a very nice evening together. I fell asleep with my arm around her, passing from my 30s to 40s next to the woman I have been so richly blessed to share my life with.

I don’t mean to be sappy or overly-sentimental here…but when I reflect on my life, how can I not be overcome with gratitude for my loyal wife, beautiful children, supportive family, and great friends? And yes, for you too dear readers. How can I not be thankful for the opportunity I have to write this blog…allowing me to travel the world and make money doing so? And for the other opportunities that allow me to support my family and enjoy the great dignity of work?

It should not take a round birthday to reflect on life…that should be a daily practice. But I’m happy to reflect today on my life and while the race is not done, I’m trying to run the race well and with God’s help, I look forward to the next decade, which I hope will be my best decade ever. Thanks to all of you for the challenge and encouragement.

The picture above was taken exactly 20 years ago, when I was half my current age. I’ve enjoyed many wonderful experiences during that time, including the chance to work on Capitol Hill and in the White House…maybe one day I will return?

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