The Edge of 50

Today is my birthday, I am 49.  Twenty years ago I thought that was old, but today it's not so bad (if you can get over that "life's half over" state of mind).  When I turned 40 I was really depressed.  I felt like I had so much  I wanted to do so I wrote out a list of goals for the next five years. Things like, run a  5K (ya still hasn't happened), be out of debt (still waiting on that one), write a devotional book.  All of these were potentially attainable goals.  When 45 came and went I said alright, I will give myself five more years, by the time I am 50 I will have completed each of these tasks.  Well here I am on the edge of 50 and I still am working towards the same list.  I am closer though, I am closer to being out of debt, I have completed the outline of the devotional book, I did start training for a 5K, but life has a way of postponing our plans.

Now in my many (49 to be exact) years of wisdom, I have realized that its ok that I haven't met the goals, I still have them and I am still working towards them, slowly but surely.  Life is full of unrealized goals and unfulfilled dreams.  It doesn't mean its not going to happen, it just means that I still have work to do and I'm not giving up.

Galatians 6: 4 & 5 says "Each one should test his own actions.  Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load." (NIV).  The Message translation is this:  "Make careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given and then sink yourself into that.  Don't be impressed with yourself.  Don't compare yourself with others.  Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."