Written 28 years ago today!

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Proverbs 9:10

Today marked my fiftieth birthday. Beginning a new decade is always a significant event. Turning thirty was a time of “jelling” in values and direction, leading to ten years of vigorous activity. Turning forty opened a decade of “working smart” based on insights, skills and experiences God had given earlier and applied through more prayer, delegation, partnering and self-denial.

Now at fifty there is another shifting of the gears, characterized by a voluntary reduction of speed. This is the direct result of God’s good working in my life, mostly through insights provided by meditation on Scripture, and also by my little wife.

The first insight is the growing revelation of my innate depravity. This is easy to mention, very hard to experience. Just last Friday at a meeting I spoke unkindly to my dear wife; I wasn’t even aware of it, but as she later gently pointed this out, it instantly became clear that I had spoken out of two wrong motives: fear of what might happen and the desire to control others.

I was distressed by this—mostly because I had to admit that, no matter how hard I try, I cannot be good in my own strength, only in His! It was another opportunity to be broken (learning not to trust in myself but in God) and to praise God for the truth of His Word being validated. And another opportunity to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, knowing that God has a plan here!