This past Sunday was my 28th birthday. It was a simple, special, great day. I go to worship with my church family in the morning. And when I got home, my wife surprised me with a lovely takeout meal from our favorite restaurant, which we haven’t been to in months. As if that weren’t enough, she’d picked up a polar pizza (way better than birthday cake), a bottle of Mello Yello, and my go-to gift request: an Eve smart light switch for the house. 😄

We obviously couldn’t go anywhere, so we spent the day at home relaxing with our dog. It’s all I ever could have wanted; I feel truly blessed.

I also feel keenly aware that my twenties are almost over. It seems like I’ve been a twentysomething for so long that it’s sort of become a part of my identity. I can’t even imagine what it would be like not to be in my twenties. And yet, that reality is quickly approaching.

27 was a good, steady year after several years of rapid change. I moved back to Arkansas, started working at Cavanaugh, and graduated seminary at 24. Fell in love with Katherine at 25. Built a house, got married, and adopted Winter at 26. And at 27, I just enjoyed it all.

Not to say that my most exciting, change-filled years are behind me. We’ve still got lots more in store… someday. But for now, life is good. I’m one content 28-year-old.

I might regret saying this publicly, but I’ve recently renewed my commitment to my health. I can’t eat junk and sit around all day anymore if I want to live long enough to meet my grandkids. My body’s still agile enough now to get back into shape if I’m willing to put in the work, and if I can build a routine that keeps me there, I think it’ll serve me well in the decades to come.

Long-term thinking might be my theme for 28. I’ve got a lot of things I want to accomplish in my life, but they’re all going to require a foundation that I’m still building. Being intentional about making those small steps towards life goals is something I’d like to put even more of my energy into this year.

Another theme that’s weaved its way into my life lately is learning when to speak and when to simply listen. There’s a lot going on in the world right now, and my first inclination is always to share my views on everything. But between the pandemic, the reckoning our country is going through concerning systemic racism, and the variety of reactions from those around me, I’ve been stunned into silence more often than not.

I’m stilly trying to navigate when it’s my place to speak and when I’d be better off amplifying the voices of others. When I should push back on statements that are harmful or wrong and when it’s just going to be unproductive. When to keep trying to push people to see things differently and when I might need to take a fresh look myself.

It’s humbling. And anxiety-inducing. And even a little bit angering at times. To be honest, I sometimes wonder if I’m doing enough to speak into these difficult times.

But then I remember that the weight of it all doesn’t rest solely on me. I have my part to play in making the world a more just place, and my job is simply to find that place. I’m still working on it; it’s a lifelong process. But lately, I’ve found that place to be much less wordy than I did before.

I still have things to say, as this rambly birthday reflection makes clear. I’m just trying to figure out when and how I’m meant to speak. And I’m always doing my best to listen to those who know so much more about what’s going on than I do.

It’s a weird time to be celebrating a birthday with everything else going on. I’d be lying if I said the state of the world doesn’t keep me up at night. But I believe I’ve been given this life and these circumstances for a reason, and that reason is to make the world a better place for everyone I can.

So that’s where I’m at 28 years and a couple of days into this life. I’m extremely thankful. I’m also burdened for the suffering happening around me and hopeful that I can somehow make a difference. And that’s what I’ll continue trying to do throughout 28, 29, and… whatever comes after that.

Thanks for reading, friends, and thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday. You were a part of making it such a special day.

See you next week!