Today marks my 78th trip around the sun, and I can honestly say I feel great! As I reflect on the journey that has brought me here, I’m reminded of the central question that has guided my life: “What do you want to BE when you grow up?”
The beauty of this question is that it never expires. At 78, I’m still growing, still learning, and still discovering new dimensions of what it means to BE an ambassador for Christ.
In my younger years, I was consumed with DOing—building businesses, chasing success, and often missing the profound moments happening right in front of me. It took failures, losses, and God’s persistent grace to show me that our value isn’t in what we accomplish, but in who we become.
Age brings a clarity that youth simply cannot possess. The wrinkles that mark my face are maps of laughter shared, tears shed, and wisdom earned. Each gray hair represents a lesson learned—sometimes the hard way!
One of the greatest gifts of these later years has been the freedom from the urgency that once drove me. I’ve learned to appreciate the slow rhythms of life: long conversations without checking the time, sunsets savored without distraction, and the profound joy of simply being present with those I love.
If I could share one piece of wisdom from all these years, it would be this: hold everything loosely except your values and relationships. Possessions will come and go, careers will evolve or end, but how you loved and who you became—these are the treasures that outlast time.
At 78, I’m not finished. There are still relationships to nurture, wisdom to share, and moments to treasure. The question remains vibrant and alive: “What do I want to BE today?” And the answer keeps unfolding with each new morning.
Here’s to embracing the gift of another year, with gratitude for what has been and excitement for what is yet to come.