Day #1: Who Am I?
I have no idea where to begin. In fact, if there are "10 Rules For Successful Blogging," I'm sure I just broke one of them by admitting to writer's block. So, instead of trying to impress you with a riveting introduction, let me start simply by telling you who I am and why I'm here. Here goes something . . .
One week ago, I woke up as a 30-year-old man.
Wow. I used to pity my friends celebrating their 30th birthday, thinking, "I wonder how it feels to be done with your life" and "It's all over now!" I'd often heard stories of people dreading the thought of getting old, insisting on having only 16 candles on their 40th birthday cake.
I love the classic Toys 'R Us jingle from the 90's where all of the kid actors from the original commercial return to sing, "I Don't Wanna Grow Up." What a fantastic way to capture a universal sentiment, and I forgot how much I love the song itself!
Hearing that song again stirred up wonderful childhood memories of Saturday morning cartoons, Fruity Pebbles, and too many action figures to count. When I got older, I remember Friday nights with my mom, dad, and brother gathering around our TV to watch the TGIF lineup on ABC. I loved watching Steve Urkel on Family Matters. And guess what? He and I both fell in love with a girl named Laura. Sorry Urkel, I got mine!
I wonder if I took too many naps in my twenties because they seem like a distant dream. Between traveling the world playing music, completing a Master's degree at Belmont University, and starting a business with my brother Marcus, I can barely believe it all actually happened. And now I've entered a new decade, and I can't help but reminisce on the past as well as envision what's next.
When I woke up on my 30th birthday, this phrase I heard as a kid came back to mind: "When I became a man, I put away childish things" (Paul). The words hit me like a freight train. I thought, "I am a man now." How did I get here? I then realized, maybe for the first time, that adulthood was not a dead end street to avoid but a glorious adventure to embrace.
For so long, I heard people advertise the impending, "big 3-0" as the crashing of an airplane or the sinking of a ship. Today, however, the truth inspires me: God grants me amazing journeys at every age, and I'm just now taking off on another exciting voyage!
Moments after this revelation, my wife Laura and I dived into an deep philosophical conversation (one of our love languages) about the difference between remaining childish and becoming childlike. We discussed how no one likes to be around someone who whines all the time or throws temper tantrums. One would expect such actions from a 3-year-old, but not from a grown man! To be childish is to be self-absorbed, needy, and fearful of what I'll lose; to be childlike is to be selfless, giving, and thankful for what I've been given.
Childlike people are humble, willing to grow and to learn. Faith is the mark of their lives. Hope encourages their steps. Love is the priority of their heart. Paul is correct, "When I was a child, I spoke, thought, and reasoned like a child." Now as a man, I willingly embrace the privilege and responsibility of manhood, accept my role as son, brother, and husband, and invite as many people as possible to join the fun!
I'm very thankful for the fond memories of childhood and for the blessings I've been given. Today brings opportunity for new memories, and there's no better time to take a leap of faith than right now.