Recently one of our daughters informed my wife and me that
we’re “boring”; we don’t do anything “exciting.” Ah, to be young again.
Well, she’s right if she meant we don’t go hang-gliding,
skydiving, mountain climbing or bungee jumping (unless you’re referring to the
“fiscal cliff”). We do watch the July 4th fireworks displays every
year, sometimes more than once. Doesn’t that count?
Roller coasters don’t excite me as much as they once did –
although I still ride them. When we went to Disney World last year, I rode the
Tower of Terror – and wasn’t terrified. But to me, that wasn’t “exciting.”
What’s exciting, I
believe, depends on your perspective. As you get older, the meaning of
“exciting” seems to change. Sally and I have dealt with serious health
issues, so awakening to start a new day is exciting. Each day is a gift, filled
with surprises and unlimited potential. And having been married to the same
person for more than 38 years and still loving each other – when strains on marriage
seem stronger all the time, and the institution is sometimes ridiculed – that’s
exciting.
Observing our children mature and marry, having children of
their own and carving out their own niches in life, is exciting. The fact they
share our foundational beliefs and values is exciting. And having grandkids
around, seeing them develop and learn, discovering and doing new things all the
time, that’s exciting.
My career has enabled us to travel around the country and
stay in very nice places. I’ve had the opportunity to travel to Europe
twice, as well as Central and South America and the Caribbean, and that’s been great
fun. But most exciting of all have been the relationships I’ve been able to
form, some of which I maintain to this day.
For me, exciting is creating an article, authoring or collaborating
with someone on a book, even posting on this blog – writing about things
important to me and hearing what I’ve written was meaningful for someone
else. Many people hate their work, so not only enjoying what you do but also
knowing without a doubt you’re fulfilling your calling, that’s exciting.
And it’s exciting to invest time with other men in mentoring
relationships, helping them to grow personally and professionally. Especially
in their faith, understanding what it means in today’s
increasingly secularized society to be a follower of Jesus Christ, believing and applying the Bible's eternal truths in everyday life.
As it says in 3 John 4, relating to both biological offspring
and spiritual children, “I have no
greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the truth.”
It’s all part of building a legacy that’s worth leaving
behind.
Most of all, to me “exciting” means having a daily, growing
relationship with the God of all creation. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will
give you the desires of your heart.” He’s done that for me – and much more.
