My wife Jan has a way of putting things in perspective. A few days ago I mentioned that I was enjoying my middle-age life. She responded, “how many men do you know over 130!?”

This year I will celebrate, hopefully, my 65th birthday–halfway to 130. It seems that just as soon as my pimples cleared up, my hair fell out. I use to have a head full of hair. I have come to the conclusion that I definitely do not have the gift of healing! If I had the gift of healing do you think I would look the way I do!

My high school youth group from church. Yep, that is me on the far right. Sixteen years old, 120 pounds, head full of hair, long sideburns, showing off the two or three chest hairs I had at that time–Life was good.

Some in that picture are no longer with us. Some I have recently reconnected with. Some I have lost contact with. Of course, there were several more who were not in that particular picture.

Some might say life has changed. Covid-19 has reminded us that life is precious. My age and older have had to take inventory of priorities and decide on how much risk we are willing to take. Everyone is being asked to take an inventory of their priorities to determine how much they really want to be “their brothers keeper.”

But I would like to propose, life has not changed. My body, my hair, my memory have changed–but not my life. Who I am is very much the same as the skinny guy in that picture. I still enjoy the same things.

I may not play baseball but I enjoying watching it. I still enjoy being around my friends even though we do not stay out as late as we use to. I enjoy riding my motorcycle, but a little more cautious than I use to. I still have the need to love and to be loved. The faith I had in Christ in that picture is the same faith I have in Him today. Hopefully, a little more matured.

Life does not change–it just goes on.

This is my story…