Tomorrow  (May 17, 2020) I will be celebrating my 60th Birthday, that’s NOT the purpose of this post, but a result of my thoughts reflecting over my past 59 years of life.

Unequivocally, God has been good to me. I make no mistake about this. I am unashamed about this, I make no excuses about this, because I’m grateful for it.

I’m a man having both parents still living married together 61 years, my Dad 91 years my Mom 80 years. Both are still independent, neither in a nursing home, I can speak with them by phone (in another state) and I do, 3 times a week or more. My sister cares for our parents in an exceptional way.

I’m glad to be living and glad to be GIVING while living even in a time like this.

When my life began 60 years ago, only God knew how it would turn out. I’ve come to understand that we are “backing into” our future which is why the future is a mystery.

One thing I’ve learned, and continue to learn about life is that it is a mixture of good and bad, highs and lows, a gentleman told me; ‘you don’t have problems Kelvin, only challenges and opportunities.’

Those “challenges and opportunities” over time turned my hair gray, some nights put “bags” under my eyes, body aches and pains became more pronounced, resilience takes a little more time. But I wouldn’t change a thing.

Time does it to us all I guess. None of us pass off the scene as young looking as we arrived.

I’ve found that time is the most precious commodity we have.

There was an older gentleman I knew, who built his house in the Hollywood Hills several years ago under the Hollywood sign out here in L.A.(you could look up and see some of the letters from the sign from his back yard.) He told me, “don’t let the clock run out on you young man.”

I took it to mean, don’t die before finishing your mission. He’s gone on, but his words still haunt me today.

With the time remaining a mystery, I now face this next episode with a vision of entering it with wisdom.

Reevaluating more. Living more deliberate than before. Improving in areas of my life where needed. Treasuring the magnificent relationships I have. Embracing humility and self sacrifice even more than before. Executing balance. Passing on my experiences to the next generation, and enjoy watching them reach their goals and dreams.

Listen, I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon, I still have some measure of “senior vitality” but these days I wanna pass it on, pay it forward. Enjoying this next season of life.

Finally, my Brenda. You know, it gets harder for me to talk about our relationship without tearing up, the older I get.

I call tears “liquid words.”

Brenda Chambliss, my wife of 22 years has been such an incredible life partner, not because of what she does for me, but because of who she is and how she lives her life.

She loves the Lord, and loves me too, and proves both repeatedly.

She’s a great example to me of faith and not giving up. I’ve seen her sacrifices for our family, I’ve witnessed Brenda do very hard things, embracing challenges, figuring it out.

She inspires me, she encourages me to wanna live, she compels me to be better.

Winning her love has been the only dreamed that mattered that came true in my life. It’s a joy to live worthy of it each day.

I encourage you today, birthday or not, begin today, living with deliberate intent.

My uncle told me something many many years ago about life that’s 50 % true, and 50% alarming.

He said; “we are old too soon and learn too late”.

Please don’t let the latter be the case.

anablepsis.