I spent a lot of mental energy recently pondering what great life event I should embrace as I turn 50 tomorrow.  At best I get another 50 years here.  I want to enter my 50’s with a full heart yet an open heart, full of vigor, drenched in wisdom, filled with love, gentleness, and kindness yet be a warrior when needed.

Walking past an aluminum shiny pull-off soda can tab recently, I thought it would make a fun picture for I have a newly developed interest in photography. The tab although old, was in intact even though these were not used on beverage cans since I was a teenager in the early ‘80s.  It sat on the ground in great condition probably being unearthed recently with all the spring rain.

Broken in two pieces lies the tab in the wet street the next day.  Oh well!  So much for my fun picture of the unbroken ring.

Today while winding down my 40’s and taking photos down at the local river, a shiny tab reflects through the clear streaming fresh waters.  Of course it is another soda tab and it is not broken, lying peacefully in the river-bed all in one piece as posing for a photo.

The tab serves as a metaphor for me. If it could talk, I think it would say….  “You missed the first picture Tim but as you enter stage 2 of life, here is a second chance to take your shot.  Do it now before I get carried away forever in the waters.  Do it now, tomorrow I can be broken in two pieces like the first tab you found. You procrastinated and that picture is gone.  Take your shot now. Do it now.”

I took the picture.  I got a SECOND CHANCE!

I often hear a cliché people say…’God is a God of second chances.’  I do not know exactly what that means but I do hope to enjoy the sounds of waves crashing, birds chirping in the rain forest, raindrops  falling as I walk hand in hand with the woman that walks with me into eternity and God pours His grace out on me.

I am ready to hear her heart beat speed up as I pull her near.  This is phase 2 of life for both of us and there are seas to be traveled, rivers to be walked, oceans to be swum in and skies to rocket across.  I hope to see as many shooting stars as I have over the last few years.

Some of the best and most important things happened to me in Stage 1 of life and I am forever grateful and thankful for those of you that were/are a part of that and I pray for those continued blessings into Stage 2.

More peace, love, and understanding are coming my way.  It will be more than just an Elvis Costello song.  Being well grounded in my faith, I trust a new maturity is unfolding for me.

As I mature, I hope to stay forever young.  I hope my spirit remains youthful and I never stop laughing.  I want my heart to always radiate joy and my baby-face never to lose a smile.  I will continue dancing even though I can look like a lanky fool sometimes.  Who cares? Life is to be lived. No one is watching anyway.

I am ready to rock.  I enter my 50’s with great optimism.  As a 50 year old friend whom I have known since High-School tells me, “50 is a very strong solid age.”  I like that. It sounds grown-up.  Other friends say age is just a number.  As I say goodbye to my 40’s, 50 is a number I am ready for.  Come on 50. I am ready for you.  I welcome my old friends to come with me and I look forward to all the new people I will meet.  Are you with me?