Twenty Four...Plus Twenty

Some of you may be familiar with the Switchfoot song "Twenty Four" that includes the following words:

"Twenty four oceans, Twenty four skies
Twenty four failures, Twenty four tries
Twenty four finds me in twenty fourth place
Twenty four dropouts at the end of the day
Life is not what I thought it was twenty four hours ago...
And I'm not who I thought I was twenty four hours ago...

Twenty four reasons to admit that I'm wrong
With all my excuses still twenty four strong..."

I always liked the song, but I especially "felt" the meaning of it when I learned it was composed right before the writers birthday.

Well, today I sit in my office singing "Forty Four"...

To you that have none of the melancholic in you, you may find it hard to grasp the appeal of a song like this or the reason anyone would sing or listen to it.
For those of us who are melancholic...'nuff said.

I tip my hat to those of you who would be motivated to sit down on your birthday, examine your life goals, re-evaluate where you are and restate them in a clearer and more concise form. Bravo.

But, some people have had their life goals "jerked out from under them" like a rug. And some of them may spend their birthday trying to figure out which one of their injuries is life threatening and needs immediate attention. Life can be that way.

I am blessed, on this birthday, to say I am not the depressed, over extended, barely able to cope person I was 2 years ago on this same day...but I have to admit that a birthday still really does make you stop and think about all that has gone on in the past ___ (you fill in the blank) years.

I think the key to it all is found in a couple of the lines that I left out of the song (sorry):

"Life is not what I thought it was twenty four hours ago,
Still I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You.
And I'm not who I thought I was twenty four hours ago,
Still I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You.
...
I want to see miracles, see the world change
Wrestled an angel, for more than a name
For more than a feeling, for more than a cause
I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
And Your raising the dead in me."

I have been learning again to sing, "Holy Spirit, lift me up" no matter WHAT happens or doesn't happen. No matter what is accomplished or is unaccomplished. No matter if I'm meeting my goals or shipwrecking on them...

It is extremely hard for me to believe that I am 44. Honestly I will probably be singing "Forty Four" for at least the next several days.

My only hope is HE is raising the dead in me...