A Momentous Long Weekend

Well, this has been quite a long weekend: The enormous outpouring of Joy for that Friday wedding; the beatification of Pope John Paul with a million in attendance; Osama Bin laden brought to justice, and Canada’s Election Day today.

But I can top all that; today is my 75th birthday!

I doubt the occasion will have quite the worldwide attention of the other events, and I don’t expect many paparazzi camped on my doorstep. I do expect the fancy foods that mark birthdays will hinder my journey to optimum health and weight, and I recognize that I have passed my ‘best before’ date.

However, I’ve had my cancer and my heart attack and have a clean bill of health at this point. My father died at 79; his father at 93 (not 103, as I recently told a number of people), so I may have, on average, a few good years left. And at age of 75 I’ve found the comfortable rut I’ve been seeking all my life.

But today is especially an encouragement to persist in what I wish to accomplish, certain that God will not call me home until I have completed what He has ordained for me to do. I look forward to these glowing fall years with anticipation.

In our early married life, the scripture below, became a meaningful promise to me for several years. With the passage of time, it slipped my memory until I read it again during my devotions this past week. Not only was it a fresh encouragement, I realized that He kept his promise for the last 50 or more years.

Fifty years is a blip compared with eternity, but if He can keep his promises for our turbulent time on earth, He can certainly do the same while dwelling safely with Him for eternity.

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10.