33..34..

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

January 3rd!

Sarah and I's birthday! Although, she is a year older than I (he he). So we are now 33/34 years old! Pretty cool age to be if you ask me. We are still young, feel young, and living young! Sure, there are cold days when aches and pains are worse...my back seems more sore than ever...and recovery time is prolonged. But for the most part, physically we're strong and feeling good.

As for the mind, I'm starting to realize I'm not all that smart. The older I'm getting, the more I realize I'm not as smart as I thought. In my 20s...I had everything figured out. Why even listen to others? Matter of fact, I can say I had a bad habit of not listening to others thoughts and opinions...I was already formulating my thoughts without considering others. Looking back and thinking about it...mmm, I don't like that version of myself. Kind of a selfish dude.

So as I age into my 30s...I'm realizing that there are way smarter people than I. And you know what? That's pretty dang cool. This means there's so much to listen and learn from others. There is a world of knowledge and experience to draw from. And the more I realize that I don't even know a fraction of a fraction...the more eager I am to listen, learn, and see new things...Another really sweet deal and realization is that I'm not called to be smart! I mean, its nice if you are...but take a closer look at the scripture above. It says to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. It doesn't say, "Know the grace and knowledge of our Lord..." Today, that means so much to me. It gives me the freedom to say, "I don't know!" And often times...I really don't. There's no need to be prideful and appear to know like you know...ya know?

In my 20s...I was a know-it-all. And today...I feel a little less like know-it-all and like someone who is eager to grow. And again, that's such a revelation for me. So, what is to grow? Several quick definitions are: to increase, to expand, to develop, to thrive, to come into existence from a source, to come to be, to allow development, a process, and to change. Ok, that's a good start. But spiritually, to grow implies so much more. As a person, if you allow change, development, and your heart to be processed and transformed...you must be:
-open
-transparent
-vulnerable
-unbiased
-ready
-willing
-honest
-trusting
-hopeful
You have to be,...right? You have to have some, if not all of these qualities to constantly develop and change. How can I grow if I'm not willing to change...or ready to try something new...or trust in another person. How can I grow If I'm not honest with myself and know that I can be better. How can I grow if I'm not transparent and vulnerable with you and tell you that, "yes...my shit stinks too!" You have to be hopeful! You have to be hopeful that one day your shit can stink a little less!

So with that being said...I like the idea of change. Growth is good. Growth is what is meant for us. Yeah, I like the sound of that...I like what this means...Spiritually, I like what it implies.

I am now 34 years old and I love being in my 30's. I know I am no longer the smartest guy in the room. Nor the hippest or coolest or strongest or best looking. But I know what I want to be. I want to be the guy that is growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.

*Extra Credit Stuff*

So, speaking of being open and honest...I am currently reading "Yes Please" by the wonderful, and hilarious Amy Poehler (yes, I'm a big fan and I can be her best friend if she would have me). She is great...and she has wonderful insight. I'm a big believer in all truth is God's truth. No matter what shape or form or that it can be from a raw, unlikely, unexpected, unchurch like place. So this is an excerpt from her book:

"I say "Sorry" a lot. When I am running late. When I am navigating the streets of New York. When I interrupt someone. I say, "Sorry,sorry,sorry." in one long stream. The sentence becomes "Sorrysorrysorry and it's said really fast, as if even the act of apologizing is something to apologize for. But this doesn't mean I am a pushover. It doesn't mean I am afraid of conflict or don't know how to stand up for myself."

She goes on to tell a story when she was younger about a guy on a plane being annoyed by her and Tina Fey's conversation. He bumped into her when the flight was over and proceeded to tell her that they basically annoyed him throughout the flight. She loses it, and yells out a long," F!@#(&$%^! You! and basically continues to curse him out.

Ok, so I think she insinuates that that wasn't cool, although he deserved it and she felt good doing it. But she continues in the book and now says, "But for the most part I try not to yell f!@# you. I try to say "yes please. And "Thank you." "Yes please" and "thank you" and "sorry, sorry, sorry."

After laughing out loud, I paused and thought, "huh...simple, golden rule...but nonetheless, Freakin' TRUE! And then just laughed some more. Yes, love finding truth in places I wouldn't have found truth in the past! Good stuff there.

What: Sarah and I birthday
Where: E-Rock, Fredericksburg, Reimers
Who: Bingham's, McGillicutty's, the Girls, and Beauty and the Beast.

Happy Birthday my sweet wife! This is to you! Another year, another year together...to the years ahead. I wish you the best! I don't have too! I already have it. I love you.

Ok, so here are the sights of our weekend.