Birthday Stuff.

I firmly believe that between the ages of about 30 and 70, birthdays are sort of like deer flies.  They buzz around your head without doing much damage, mostly just a minor annoyance.  Every so often (every decade or so) one gets beyond your defenses and bites you.  My advice?  Swat it and move on.


So today, the 46th anniversary of my first glimpse of this world, I was simply enjoying all the smiles and Facebook happy wishes, and ignoring another year gone by.  Not in denial, but not really engaging the whole birthday thing either.


At Central, at 9 am each morning Monday through Thursday, our staff meets to read the Daily Texts and to pray together.  I have noticed that God frequently has a sense of humor in the way the Daily Texts (one verse of scripture from the Old Testament and one from the New) seem to connect with the business of the day.


Today was no exception.


Here are today's verses and prayer, chosen at random by a group of Moravians, for my 46th birthday:

Today's Old Testament Verse Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent. Psalm 71:9 Today's New Testament Verse Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 Today's Prayer Thank you, Lord, that with my earthly tent failing, you still revive my spirits. I’m sorry that I cannot let go of old expectations. Trusting that you make all things new, I ask you to release me into a new beginning today and show me what I can do. Renew my inmost being with your Spirit.  Amen. Who says God has no sense of humor?  Surely not me.