The last birthday of my 50’s made me more introspective than usual. On past birthdays, I’ve often set goals for myself, answering the questions, “What would I like to accomplish in the coming year? Where do I see myself in five years, even ten years down the road?”
But the 59th birthday was different. Productivity doesn’t seem as important as it once did. Maybe this has something to do with my parents’ recent passing. Or maybe it’s because I want to enjoy the moment more than the momentum. Or maybe it’s because I’m simply slower than I used to be.
I’ve definitely awakened to the fact life is fleeting, and my plans may not be God’s. But here’s the good news: I’m okay with that. His plans are always better than mine. If I had kept to my original blueprint conceived in college, I certainly wouldn’t have been open to following the side trails God has lead me through nor the spiritual growth that has happened because of them.
Have I arrived? No! I still lack courage, follow-through, and faith. Yet when I ask myself where I want to be and what I’d like to be doing in ten years, the answer is different. Now I can say it really doesn’t matter as long as God is in the driver’s seat.