Monday Morning Manna: Birthday and New Year’s Day

This Monday, December 30, is a special day. It is my birthday. I’m not sure how I got this old. Dr. Seuss said, “How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before it is June. My goodness how time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” I do remember when I was young, my birthday parties were always occasion for someone else’s fun. My parents planned things that were more enjoyable for my friends than for me. I’ve never been much into horseback riding, yet I had a birthday party at the Post Oak Stables in Houston. I didn’t much care for Playland Park, a forerunner of Six Flags and Astroworld, but I had a couple of birthday parties there. Eating Hot Dogs before riding the Roller Coaster, never worked well for me. One good thing on the calendar was that my birthday was soon followed with New Year’s Day, which featured resolutions and future dreams. Not sure what I will do on my birthday this year, but a couple of days later, I will be focusing on the future. C.S. Lewis said, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” I’ve got a few goals yet to set, and a dream or two left to dream. How about you? How about this one from the Psalmist, “I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet” (Psalm 27:4, The Message). Happy New Year!

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.