Time has a way of whizzing us by. Moving so quickly and catching us unaware of the passing time ………….. It seems, it was only weeks ago, all of us were busy celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, followed by a New Year and more recently Valentine’s Day.
It seems, just not too long ago that I was a young, school going lad. Then, a young man – full of confidence, enthusiasm and courage, eager to embark on a journey in search of realizing my dreams and ideals. Got married along the journey, then ……………………… So many Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year and Valentine’s Day had passed, one after another.
Sitting in my garden, looking at the sky, watching the birds and butterflies flying around this beautiful Sunday morning, I wonder where all the years have gone?
I have been either responding or reacting to every event or incident that cropped up in my life to the best I could. So much so, I am now a weather beaten man, so to speak. I know I lived them all.
I know I cannot be young forever. I used to think that winter was still far off. But, here it is, the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise. How did I get here so fast? Where did my years go? And where did my youth go?
As I looked up at the sunny sky in search of some comforting answers, I recalled the beautiful words God said to Joshua once – when he was old and well advanced in years. The Lord said, “You are very old and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. ”
Ah…….., you see, I told myself, God was not finished with Joshua yet and I believe He is not finished with you yet. He has still more for you to do in His kingdom. So it is only when He call you home that your work, your contribution, will finally be done.
Today, the 19th of February 2012, I have added another year to my life. I have just turned sixty-one. Growing-up and not growing old. As I enter this new season of my life. I am not sure how long the winter will last …………….. You see, our life is like a vapor, it vanishes away …………….. With the Grace of God, I will continue to be useful and productive as I continue my journey in winter.
Peace, Love, Understanding and Blessings, to all of you, my friends. !!!
Have A Dream 
Lovely Michael
Thank You and God Bless.
Happy Birthday, Michael! 🙂
Thank You Nat. Have a beautiful Sunday and God Bless.
Happy Birthday Michael! I wish you a wonderful day in the company of your family and friends. Hey the sixties are the new forties! 🙂
Time is like air. We can’t really see it but we have instruments to measure it. When the air is used up in the space we are in, we will suffocate (all other factors remaining the same, cp. blah blah). When our time is up, we die. But unlike air, which we can only make use of by breathing in and out, we can make use of time in various ways. There is a phrase in German that goes like “To beat time dead” to describe waiting for something. Beating something to death doesn’t sound like a moral thing to do. In the case of time, we will only be hurting ourselves. As a procrastinator I have wasted a lot of time in my life. I sometimes have the (frightening) thought that one day I would wake up feeling like a 20 year old but trapped in the body of an eighty year old. Now I tell myself that it is never too late to start making the best use of time and if I make the best use of the time available to me, I would not be feeling regrets when I wake up as that 80 year old.
Take care and cheers!
Thank You Irene. What a beautiful and inspiring insight that you had just shared with me. Love it. I agree the sixties are the new forties. This really make my day. Cheer and God Bless.
You’re welcome. 🙂
Best Regards. !!!
Beautiful writing Michael, soft and sweet walk down the memory lane, wondering about it all.
Just remember the you inside has no age, he is the same age as when he was born and he will stay that way to the end. Believe me I know, because I have been around long enough to find out on my own skin.
I sometimes tell the story about the crystal bowl, if you take a crystal bowl and wrap it in a paper and store it someplace in your home and keep for many of years, the color of the paper my fade little by little, it might torn here and there and wrinkle, but when you, 80 years later, unwrap it the bowl will still be the same as when you raped up.
That’s how we are, all of us.
Greetings from Iceland.
Inga Hel
http://ingahel.com/
Thank You Inga. Very true and very convincing. Really appreciate you sharing this with us today. Have a great day and warmest wishes from a 61 years young baby.
Hahahaha, funny, greetings from a 64 years old girl.
I think 64 years young sound better, sister Inga. !!!
I am shocked and surprised Michael! I hadn’t really thought about your age before, but from your writing and your views I had an image in my head of a young man – so, as I read this post, further down the page, I was expecting you to say you were celebrating a birthday in your late thirties, or at a push, early forties. You would have laughed if you’d seen my ‘no way!’ reaction!!!
So, with great pleasure I’m wishing you a very Happy Birthday … and remember, lol, it’s only a number!
I agree with all that you had mentioned. In fact, many people ask, how I keep? Frankly, I think, act and live my life younger than my age. Thank You.
Happy Birthday, Michael! I hope it’s a special day. I agree with what “chatting with spirit” said, you have such a young way of looking at things, and a youthful look! Oh my goodness but I’m surprised 🙂 Lovely post, by the way 🙂
Thanks for the birthday wish. It has been very meaningful and special occasion. Last night my two brothers-in-law and me, celebrated our birthdays together. All fell in the month of February. I feel there is a lot of laughing from all of you. Have a great week ahead and God Bless.
Happy Birthday Michael!
Go and take that mountain…you are well able!
Blessings – Joy. 🙂
Thank You. It’s so nice and kind of you. God Bless.
Happy Birthday Michael and I pray that God allows to have many more. Your messages are always inspiring! God bless you!
Thanks for the prayer my friend and wish. I pray that you will have a great year in 2012. Happy Sunday and Blessings.
Happy Birthday Michael! I enjoyed your post today and I know God still has big plans for you and for me! I know I to am getting older but I still feel exactly the same inside as I used to- makes me wonder if my parents felt that way….I use the phrase-when you start acting old you start looking old, and I don’t think I look as old as I am, which is good, either way, you are as old as you feel, I know that I can’t do all the things I used to but I can still try! Thanks again for your post, it was perfect!
Thanks Leigh. I feel young. I act young. I think young and I dress young. Makes a different outlook altogether. Happy Sunday !!!
Happy Birthday! Wishing you a day full of love and happiness and many, many more to come!
Thank You. So kind of you. Have a beautiful Sunday.
Well old man…..You just keep ticking along don’t you? Don’t worry because where we go next aging is non existent. There is much life yet to be lived and shifting into a new paradigm will be the best birthday present you’ve ever gotten. So settle back and enjoy the journey! Happy Birthday!
Blessings….VK
Well said my friend. Age is a number. With the Grace of God, I will continue to enjoy my new season with high spirits. Blessings and Warmest Wishes VK. !!!
Happy Birthday Michael! As the saying goes, “it ain’t over ’till it’s over”. There are still mountains to climb and journey’s to make and each day hoping we make a difference to just one other. Each day is a gift and I think you are one who knows this and appreciates the knowing. If it’s any comfort, I’m right behind you age wise and wonder about these things that make up our life too.
Thank You Jeannie. Great words of encouragement. Have another great week Jeannie. !!!
What a beautiful post! Happy birthday! You are a gifted writer. You are so right, God, the universe, our heart, will always urge us onwards on our path, it is up to us to feel the urges, to break free of the age limitations that we’ve all placed on ourselves, the expectations, all of it. You seem very free and it is beautiful to see. May we all continue to expand, grow and open and claim our freedom. Well done Michael, today I celebrate you.
Thank You Bradleez. Appreciate your thoughts and wish. Yes, May we all continue to expand, grow and open and claim our freedom. Have a great week ahead and Cheer !!!
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Another year younger is certainly something to celebrate!
Hi Emily………………….. Thank You, Thank You. Thanks for leaving some words for me to cherish. Being another year younger is certainly something to cheer. Looking forward to extending my best wishes to you nest. Have a great week. Regards. !!!
Happy Birthday! Wow, I definitely thought you were much younger too. You are clearly still young on the inside.
Hahaha ……. So nice to have you visiting and wishing. I agree. Sometimes I think like a 20, act like a 30, dress like a 40, ideals as though I am in my sweet eighteen and so forth. Guess that is what makes life fun while learning and living. Blessings and have a great week ahead my friend. !!!
Happy Birthday!
No matter what your age, you have that day to live. The older we get, the more experience we have on what to do with it.
You only have a few years more practice at that than I do! Enjoy!
You are right. I love your thought. But at times I am no wiser than anyone half my age. Hahaha ……. Have a great week and Blessings. !!!
Your birthday and we get the present. Thank you.
Nice one John. Thank You and God Bless.
Happy Birthday, Micheal. Here’s to the first of many more! 😉
Thank You Orples. So sweet of you. Have a great week ahead. !!!
Happy Birthday Michael and many more. Really touching and heart felt writing, just beautiful. Life is funny, we are always chasing time. But words such as yours remind us to stop and take it all in, take in the beauty of God’s creation. Love your Philip Adams quote as well. Growing up my dad called the telly “the idiot box”, because if we watched too much of it he feared that’s what we’d become. I think he was right! Especially based on tv today. Better to write, be creative, communicate, make up your own story, have a cup of tea with a friend, than to watch that garbage, huh. Happy Birthday to you, have a wonderful day.
So nice. Appreciate you visiting and leaving a word behind. Great insight. Hope it was a great day for you today. Have a great week ahead and God Bless.
Happy birthday to you! 🙂
Thank You Cathy. So good to have you visiting and wishing. Have another great week and God Bless.
Happy Birthday, I hope you have a bless one and many many more 2 come! God Bless 🙂
Thanks for the good wishes my friend. You have another great week ahead. Blessings. !!!
I always say – it’s what’s on the inside that really matters, not what’s on the outside. Happy Birthday Michael
I agree with you on that. What is on the inside really matters. Looking forward to yours. Have a beautiful Monday and keep excelling my friend. Regards. !!!
One of the things we can’t stop…time. great post. dani
How true Dani, “we can’t stop time.” Comforting words as I get ready to face another day. You have a great week ahead Dani. Blessings. !!!
you you too MIchael. I hope your week is a great one.
Thanks Dani. Let make sure that each of us will have a great week ahead – from a 61 years young baby.
“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”
Happy Birthday Michael
Hi Rafa, Many thanks for the words that you have so kindly mentioned. Amen. Have a great week and God Bless.
Happy Birthday! I had a conversation with my 8 year old about time and how it seems to go by faster and faster as we get older. I told her never to be impatient to grow up because once you do there is no going back to childhood and that time will speed up. She understood intellectually but not emotionally….some day she will. I understand exactly what you are saying about aging and wondering where it went, but still having so much in store too. Bless you and yours on the wonderful day.
It’s so nice to have you visting and leaving some words behind. Thank You. Wonderful message. Have a great week ahead and God Bless.
Happy Birthday Micheal! I pray that the promises of Joshua are shared by you as well! I pray taht every place where you set your foot is yours. I pray that Gd extend your territory, No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. Gos is with you, never will he leave nor forsake you. The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go!
Thanks for the kind wishes. Regards.
Happy Birthday, dear Michael. I read lots of surprises about your age. As I reflect, be encouraged – age is a wonderful thing. With years comes wisdom– some experiences we just don’t have to go through again.
I pray the day was rich with celebration. Many blessings today and always.
Thanks Carrie. I agree with what you have mentioned. The day went smoothly. And the most beautiful part was it reunites and reconnects me with my world. Have a great weerk ahead.
Fabulous post, Michael. Even on a special day of your own, you have found a way to weave it into a lesson in life. I think that’s what we all love about visiting you here at Have A Dream. You always have such a soft and subtle way of passing along a tiny jewel of wisdom.
I started my blog when I realized exactly what you posted about here today.
http://lifewithhiccups.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/world-championship-living/
http://lifewithhiccups.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/stop-and-smell-the-roses/
Life passes by so very quickly. It can be so difficult to decide how to get the most out of it. Ironically, we often give our time to those things that are really less important. I would love to shadow you for one weekend, just to observe how you make your decisions each day.
Thanks for another wonderful post, and Happy Birthday from Canada!!!
Thanks LWH for the very kind words. I always have the impression that you are from Australia. A sign of ageing. Have a great week ahead and Blessings.
Australia…how intriguing. I do hope to get there some day. Hey didn’t we all just agree that aging is not a negative? Lol
When I read your first post I have that assumption. You see, my mind is beginning to play tricks with me. Stay young and stay happy. Best Regards.
Happy Birthday, Michael! You are so right about time passing us by. Your thoughtful posts are always a joy to read.
Thank You for visiting and commenting. You have a great week and God Bless.
Though I am late – Happy Birthday Michael!
Thanks Nitza. So nice and kind of you. The next one is yours and I am looking forward to that. Keep smiling and Best Regards.
Age is a journey for all of us, different chapters, different seasons, explanations, reasons and understanding. Today, February 20th, was my 16th- a distance between time and space, but still a season none the less. Navigating each day as it comes our way.
~SheilaB
Well said Sheila. Love your insight and a happy 16th Birthday. Wishing you every succeess in all your endeavors. !!!
Well, my dear – first of all, Happy Birthday! It seems we are both in that lap of life – what sometimes appears to be the final one, until we realize we have perhaps quite a few more yet to run. I love my life right here. Right now. I know more about myself than ever before. I feel better about simply ‘being myself’ than ever before – that this is ‘enough.’ It frees up all sorts of energy to explore and expand in ways I never dreamed possible when I was bound up in trying to please the world.
I hope you enjoy the same experience in self acceptance, for you seem a good sort of soul who deserves true happiness.
Thank You Bela. I am moving forward in that direction. But, since I still have the energy and zest, I want to do a little more in every way. Thanks for the valued insight you just shared. With the Grace of God, I will in that state og mind one day. Regards.!!!
Energy! Zest! Yes! 😀
Thanks.
Okay … so I was reading this and enjoying your philosphy and accepting the thought process that many of us go through when a birthday appears then – BAMM …!!!!
You say the number – 61. so noew I’m thinkingis he writing a story of is this his special day. Well, I go one and YES it is your number. WHAT ???? REALLY ??? You jest – right ???? You had best bottle whatever it is you’re eating or using for your very youthful look. I don’t mean to sound disrespectful or too personal but you do not appear to be that age. Good for you … ENJOY – be proud.
Well done on staying fit and young.
Happy Birthday and many, many more.
Blessings,
Isadora
Thank You. I am 61 years young now. Still growing up. The reason why I revealed my number is because from the feedback I received from my posts, I think many perceive yours truly as a much younger man. So I think I better set it right at the appropriate time. But, I do look younger. Even those I meet are surprised (including men) and they ask; “How do you keep?” Apart from the number, I still think I am young, act as if I am young and ………………. Probably, that’s how I will spend my winter. But, as Irene said, “The sixties are the new forties.” Hahaha I love that tag. !!!
Hi Michael, how are you? I see you are sixty one years young, I was reading where Calab went to Joshua and said “I’m now eighty and ready to take the land that Moses promised me when I was forty, so take heart my dear friend you and I are still going to be around a long time. There is still to many things the Lord wants to accomplish through us, still so many people to encourage and bless, as you do me through your postings, so we will chat again when you turn 81 and I turn 105, I’m in this for the long haul, I’ll take the 120 promised in the Word. Have a lovely day my brother and the Lord bless and keep you in perfect health, sound of mind and as rich as Midas. Love ya.
Thanks for leaving some thoughts behind for me to ponder. Appreciate your kindness and understanding. Wonder if blogging will remain trendy and relevant when you are 120? Let’s enjoy the moment …….. Regards.!!!
[…] I was “Counting Blessings On A Beautiful Sunday” recently, Irene Lefort, a fellow blogger exclaimed; “The sixties are the new […]