53

 

I turned 53 this week.  Although someone referred to it as "the big 5, 3" there is really nothing big about it.  I got to spend an afternoon with my wife, all four of my children, and my two children-in-law.  It was not a big event (we're talking Panda Express take out level event), and it wasn't completely birthday boy-centric.  In fact nearly as many gifts were given to other people (late wedding gift, late birthday gift) as I received.  It was perfect.

What I had hoped to do (but the idea came too late to implement) was hand everyone a reverse birthday card.  I had the idea of giving a gift (of heartfelt words on paper) to those in the room whom I treasure.  [Just to be clear I treasure everyone who was in the room.]  That concept might be more aligned with some non-Western cultures, but it felt pretty novel to me.  Since I didn't have time to get it done that day I have embarked on a project.  I am writing 53 letters of encouragement to people in my life.  That list includes a lot of obvious names (like all the people in the room at my party).  But for the other slots I just started writing names.  Some were more obvious than others.  There are colleagues who have been my partners in the gospel for many years.  There are local friends who have stood by me (and next to whom I have stood) as the world seems to tear itself apart.  There are names who need far more encouragement than my few words can offer (but I'm trusting God to meet their needs).  And there are names that just came to mind for some reason.  I'm not letting myself obsess over the names that should be on the list... but it's tempting.

I think this writing project is good for my soul.  I think there is something Christlike in considering how the person will receive it.  The words in the letter matter of course, but there is more.  When I print for someone who can't read my cursive, or when I give some care to what the address looks like (yeah, I address in different handwritten fonts), or when I purposefully add a coffee cup circle (not the whole circle, mind you, but about 300° on the right edge) to the back of my graphic designer son-in-law's envelope I think I'm saying I know you and I love you.  

10 down.  43 to go.