Turning Thirty

I have never made that big of a deal about birthdays, but this one feels just a little different. I turn thirty today. It’s not bad, or scary, but it is a sign that I really am every bit an adult whether I want to act like it or not. In your twenties you can still use the excuse that “I was young and stupid.” Now, that young part isn’t really an option anymore. Of course, being thirty may mean that I have to be taken just a little more seriously. As my uncle once said, “At thirty, you’re just old enough to start to know what you’re talking about.” I don’t feel any younger, or any older, and overall I still feel young, and more like a kid than an adult, but it really does seem like I am moving into a different era of my life.

I once heard Andy Rooney talk about how your brain is full by 30. You can keep taking stuff in, but by 30 you have to forget something in order to learn something new. I think I have started. I wonder if it is linked to snoring, because I have started doing that in the last month too. Seriously, ask our kids the difference between our retreat in January, and CYC in February. I’m still irritated about it. At thirty, I think I am in the infant stages of getting old. In the last year I have started snoring, for the first time in my life had to get hemmorhoid cream, I have started to have to take a few more breaks while driving, I have to be careful about what shoes I wear, I recently had my first case of heartburn (isolated so far, but I'm not too hopeful), and I have had to take allergy medicine. Grrr.

Truthfully, I am so blessed to be able to reflect positively on this day. I am doing what I love to do, and there is nothing about age 30 that makes me think I am too old for youth ministry. Am I out of touch with my youth group’s world? Maybe, but I was out of touch with my youth group’s world when I was in the youth group, so nothing is different there. I am able to work with a congregation that I love, and with wonderful kids and families. I have the advantage of continuing to gain wisdom with age, although I know I am closer to the beginning of that journey than the end. But I can truthfully say that I am so tremendously blessed beyond what I deserve, and the Lord has been good to me.

We live in a culture that values youth and has forgotten the importance of life experience. I am so thankful that the Lord’s church crosses generational lines. We need the wisdom of grey hair and a faithful life well lived, and I hope that I am on that road (but no gray hairs yet, or bald spots for that matter, but there is a thinning spot). For those of you who think that you do not have much to offer our youth, you do. They need your perspective, wisdom, love, and encouragement. I need it too. Never let your age make you think you can’t have an influence or make a difference. The Bible values age, and I hope that we do too.

I will leave you with a song that I heard a few years ago, and it has special significance to me today. I love the sentiment of it. It was written by Randy Stonehill in the early 90s:

Turning Thirty
I'VE GOT A HOUSE DOWN BY THE OCEAN
THE RENT IS NOT TOO HIGH
AND I LOVE TO WATCH THE SHIPS COME IN
AND HEAR THE SEAGULLS CRY
AND LATELY I'VE BEEN TAKING STOCK
OF ALL THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH
OH TOMORROW IS MY BIRTHDAY
FEELS FUNNY BUT IT'S TRUE
I'M TURNING THIRTY

NOW I'VE GOT A WIFE WHO REALLY LOVES ME
SHE MAKES MY LIFE SO SWEET
AND A LITTLE BABY DAUGHTER
WHO PLAYS GAMES AROUND MY FEET
AND MY WORLD IS VERY DIFFERENT
FROM LOST LAZY BACHELOR YEARS
BUT IF I HAD THE CHANCE TO GO BACK
I'D RATHER STAY RIGHT HERE
TURNING THIRTY

AND I HAVE FRIENDS WHO CARE ABOUT ME
THEY'RE THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD
AND THEY ALWAYS STOOD BEHIND ME
WHENEVER TIMES GOT BAD
AND I LOVE TO PLAY MY MUSIC
THOUGH THE ROAD CAN BE AT TRIAL
BUT EVERY TIME I WALK ON STAGE
IT'S WORTH EACH DUSTY MILE
TURNING THIRTY

WELL, NOW THIRTY AIN'T LIKE FIFTEEN
AND IT'S NOT LIKE TWENTY-FIVE
MY BACK'S A LITTLE STIFF
AND THERE'RE SOME LINES AROUND MY EYES
BUT I'VE STILL GOT MY ENERGY
AND I'VE GOT MOST OF MY HAIR
AND I'M NOT TOO OLD TO ROCK 'N ROLL
AND I'M NOT REALLY SCARED
OF TURNING THIRTY
I WROTE THIS SONG EIGHT YEARS AGO
MY, HOW TIME FLIES AND SO DO I

OH, THE NINETIES LOOK LIKE TOUGH TIMES
THE WORLD IS TURNING SOUR
SO I'LL KEEP ON SERVING JESUS
AND AWAIT THE FINAL HOUR
AND THOUGH I'VE OFTEN FAILED HIM
IN THESE THIRTY ROCKY YEARS
HIS MERCY BROUGHT ME THIS FAR
AND HIS LOVE HAS DRIED MY YEARS
I'M TURNING THIRTY
I'LL TREASURE THESE YEARS
I'M TURNING THIRTY
I'LL TREASURE THESE YEARS TURNING THIRTY