There is an occasion for everything,
and a time for every activity under heaven:
a time to give birth and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;
a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;
a time to search and a time to count as lost;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Today, March 5, 2019, I celebrate my 67th birthday. Sixty-seven years: A very, very long time.

I remember as a young boy thinking that 30 years old was ancient – until I reached 20 – then 30 didn’t seem quite as ancient as I once thought. But then, I began to think that 50 would be the pivotal date between vigor and vitality and the nursing home – until I reached 40. It was then that I figured 60 would be the point in time, when those who reached that milepost in life, would sit around, sipping on a hot cup of tea, while being wrapped in a shawl to keep the old bones warm.

Then, I reached fifty! Fifty years old! And yet, 50 didn’t seem so bad. All those images that had been floating around in my head evaporated, as fifty came and went with little visible signs of wear and tear. Of course, the old body wouldn’t do some of the things it once did, but, all-in-all, 50 wasn’t so bad after all.

The years between 50 and 60 seemed to pass quickly. As a matter of fact, I look back over those years and wonder where they went! And now, today, I have reached the ripe old age of 67. It really doesn’t seem possible, but, here I am. And, other than a few aches in the joints, and a few health issues that are manageable, I still enjoy relatively good health.

Of those 67 years, my wife and I have spent the last 45 together. We have experienced much in those four and a half decades. We have lived in three states (South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas), and have moved sixteen times. We have enjoyed doing life together, and are looking forward to our future together as we have now moved into our semi-retirement years.

I have said all that to make this simple observation: Time passes too quickly! As I think about my life, I have a few really big regrets. Oh, I have more than a few regrets, but only a few really big ones. I am going to share a few with the hope that you will possibly learn from my past mistakes.

First, life is short! Sixty-seven sounds like an awfully long time, and I guess it is, but as I look back, it seems to have gone by so quickly. I really regret not using my time on this earth more wisely. If I could change the past, one thing I would make sure to do is spend more quality time with my wife and children. Life gets so very, very busy. I spent way too much time investing in things that now seem extremely unimportant, while neglecting the more important things.

Second, I would have used my God-given talents and abilities more aggressively. When I completed my doctorate, I was encouraged to use my skills in Greek and Hebrew (I won the American Bible Societies award for outstanding student in both languages) to engage in teaching one or the other of the languages in seminary or college. I, regrettably, did not pursue this avenue. Now, please don’t misunderstand, I have certainly enjoyed my pastoral ministry which spanned 40 years, but as I think about those years I feel that I could have invested time in the pursuit of other ventures.

Third, I have to admit that I failed to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Too many times I rushed through life without taking time to enjoy life. My wife and I have embraced the mentality of getting to our destination as quickly as possible, without taking time to enjoy the trip. I have come to realize that enjoying the journey is just as important as reaching the destination. We have long lived by this principle: We don’t back up! What I mean by that is we have been in such a hurry to get somewhere that we haven’t enjoyed the trip. We are both trying to change, but old habits are hard to break!

I realize that I have already lived much longer than I have yet to live. I hope that I have learned some lessons that will enable me to make more of my remaining time. I want to enjoy life to the max. I want to glorify God in all that I do. I want to invest in my family as much as I can. I want to be remembered as one who learned to stop and smell the roses along the path. I want to stroll through life, not race through it.

If you are reading this, and you are now in the young adult years of your, please don’t make the same mistakes that I have made, and now regret. Take time to build a life, not just live a life. Take time to enjoy the journey, not just rush to the destination. Take time to invest in the lives of those you love, because, rest assured, the day will come when you look back and ask yourself: “Where did the time go?”