It seems that when we reach the point of a 30th, 40th or something birthday, we start thinking about getting older. I don't know anyone who wants to get old or older. It's not a pleasant thought for most of us.
Well, Clint and I were discussing this last night and actually prayed about the fact that sometimes we need to accept the fact that we are getting older ... not old, just older. :) Does that make sense??
As I was praying I realized that whoever decided that turning 40 was "over the hill" was wrong in the way it's been perceived over the past and even now. It's been a lie that's been presented to us. Turning 40+ does not need to be a negative thing in our lives!
We were finished praying but I still kept mulling through this in my mind. I asked God about it some more and he gave me this picture (I love it when He does this!) ...
I saw a long slow progressing hill. Once at the top, it was a soft, rounded top of the hill. On the other side I saw a massive meadow of daisies with beautiful mountains as the backdrop. The most significant part of this picture is that the other side of the hill does not continue going down. It goes down just enough so that when you are going up the hill you cannot see what's on the other side. It's when you reach the top that you can see what's on the other side. It's not something to dread! When you reach the top of the hill there is so much more to look forward to. It doesn't have to be a downward "over the hill" experience for us!
For some of you the "meadow of daisies" may be something else. It may be a forest where you enjoy spending time. What is it that is inviting to you? A walk in the woods ... a walk in the park ... a beautiful summer day ... the sight of leaves and flowers blooming ... freshly fallen snow ... ?
As I asked God what this meant for Clint and I since we had just prayed about it, this is what I got ...
For so many people life after 40 is a downward progression. He doesn't want it to be that way. For the first 40+/- years we strive to become good at what we do. We strive for success. We build our lives by going through school, finding jobs, dating, getting married, having children, learning life lessons and being successful at what we do. That's all good, but when we reach 40 or so we begin to take a step back and evaluate our lives.
What have we accomplished?
What do we want to do now that we've accomplished so much?
Where do we want to go from here?
I believe that we come to a point of wanting to do significant things in our mid-life. For so many of us we've accomplished a lot but there's so much more abundant life ahead of us.
What do we do with it?
What does GOD want us to do with it?
What are we called to do within His Kingdom?
What are our passions?
What does significance mean to me? To God?
What's on the other side of your hill? What will you do with it?
1 comment:
I agree. Nice to hear it like that. :)
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