Thoughts on turning 37
January 6th, 2009 by Marc A. Pitman
Today’s a big day for me, not just because it’s Epiphany. It just so happens that 37 years ago today, I was born.
Not that I had much to do with it. Dad and Mom were largely responsible. Mom says it was a very long labor. I’m sure she would’ve preferred doing something else for more than 33 hours!
I just know that, to this day, all my fingers and toes are in the right places. Pretty amazing given the migraine medication my mom was told to take during her pregnancy. Not to mention the presence of a Dalkon Shield!
The odds were certainly stacked against a healthy birth. So, I’ve been thinking a lot today about the hand of God in my life even then.
A co-worker just popped in and said, “Let me be one of 300 to say ‘Happy Birthday.’ The world is a better place because you’re in it.” All I could think of was how honored I am to be here. I’m humbled by what God’s allowed me to accomplish in the first 36 years. And I’m pretty excited about what He’s got instore for the next hundred or so.
And I love that He chose to have me be born on Epiphany. On this day, we celebrate God’s revelation of His incarnate son, Jesus, to the Magi. It would’ve been enough if He’d just come for the Jewish people. But He was so excited, He couldn’t wait to get the word out! So the first leaders to worhsip Jesus were really smart goyim from a long way away.
I want my life to be like that. I want to be used by God to help really smart leaders see His reality in tangible ways in their lives.
And, being born today, I like to think He wants that for me too.
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 at 10:15 am and is filed under personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Happy birthday, Marc, and I’m glad to know that the prime number your wife was talking about wasn’t much more than the 29 I guessed! Blessings to you as you serve.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:29 am
check out Fr. Richard Rohr’s homily from this past Sunday regarding what he believes the story of the Magi means to us. i liked it.
http://cacradicalgrace.org/rss/homily.rss
(Jan 4th, 2009)
January 6th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Thanks Jhimm!
Unfortunately, the link isn’t opening. Is there a way to see it on the web?
January 6th, 2009 at 9:43 am
this will take you directly to the mp3 file:
http://cacradicalgrace.org/getconnected/RR_homilies/2009-01-04_Homily_VBR.mp3
January 6th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Wow. What a great reminder!
January 6th, 2009 at 10:16 am
i have his homilies in my RSS. they’re usually pretty brilliant (and short
January 6th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Happy Birthday to you Marc and to your Mom for bringing you to us.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Thanks Rob! I’ll pass on you kind words.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Happy Birthday Marc! I am so glad God decided that you were needed here on earth.
Jan
January 6th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
I just read your post and I turn 37 on the 17th and I was freaking out that I have wasted my life, your post made me think that maybe my life has gone just as he has planned for me. It helps.
January 6th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Thanks so much, Janice!
January 6th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Yvette: Glad I could help!
November 6th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Sorry Marc,
I turn 37 and there is nothing that will make me feel good about it.