Thoughts on turning 40

[Life2Christ]

Just came back from my trip to Antarctica and I feel like a changed person. It was a very spiritual journey for me kind of like going to Mecca. I spent a lot of time praying and communing with God. I spent my birthday there. On my expedition there was a lot of talk about global warming (which is most evident at the north and south poles) and it was very depressing.

Antarctica is a regal place that in my imagination resembles heaven in so many ways. It is hardly touched by human hands except ironically, it is the MOST placed touched by human hands indirectly because it (like the north pole) is ground zero for global warming effects.

On my trip I found a book that I read straight through without stopping and that was How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill. It came out in 1995 but it really put my mind on Jesus. While I was surrounded by God's handiwork in this beautiful place I truly realized that nothing on this earth is more important than God's kingdom and God's will for us.

I plan to read Confessions by Augustine (has anyone read this?). I feel like this year and the rest of my life won't be dedicated to things past but to the future dedicated to Jesus in all things. Not sure how to accomplish this. I'm taking baby steps. I live in a crazy, materialistic setting in an urban area and I'm a salmon swimming upstream; going the opposite way trying to find my discipleship.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

So glad to hear you had a great time and actually went on the trip!!!! Did you take any photos you could post? I've never been probably won't ever go but would love to see your version of it. Haven't heard of either of the books you mentioned but I am glad to hear how spiritual it was for you too.

 

[Life2Christ]

Yes I have lots of pics although I mostly focused on video. I wanted to remember the sounds of Antractica. The gentoo penguins sound like donkeys (hee haw, hee haw!). At one point I was on the water and the iceberg calved (cracked off) and the whole thing flipped over scaring the hell out of me! I refused to kayak because I was scared of the whales toppling me over LOL.

The day of my birthday my best memory was that I was cleaning the penguin guano ( aka penguin's #2) off my boots and I accidentally fell waist-deep in the bay. Had to climb up algae-covered rocks which are slippery. Every time I tried to get up, I slid back down! I was so scared but again it was because of seals (those aggressive suckers) and whales. But it was all good.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

oh my! but you DID go and you DID have fun and you DID survive YAY!

 

[Life2Christ]

and you DID survive YAY!

That was the most important part!

I had 4 people tell me that I do not look 40 and that they thought I was 19 or 20. I hate that! I think they think I'm young because I always say "like" and "totally" and "that's awesome". I'm trying desperately to correct this. I'm not so sophisticated and I'd rather have a hamburger than steak. Plus I'm not the most articulate person.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

That was the most important part!

I had 4 people tell me that I do not look 40 and that they thought I was 19 or 20. I hate that! I think they think I'm young because I always say "like" and "totally" and "that's awesome". I'm trying desperately to correct this. I'm not so sophisticated and I'd rather have a hamburger than steak. Plus I'm not the most articulate person.

The older you get the more you will appreciate looking younger than you are. People never think I am 53 but the gap used to be wider like they would think I was 20 years younger or so but now they think I'm in my 40's so...

 

[blackribbon]

If people said they thought you were younger than you are....they are saying that you LOOK younger than you are. If they say "act your age", then they are commenting about your behavior.

Both you and your daughter survived this!!! Three cheers for having the strength to go inspite of your fears.

As for Confessions....it is sitting on my bookshelf but never read. I'm hoping that my kids and I will read it when we get to Augustine in World History. If you do read it, let me know if it was good.

 

[Life2Christ]

As for Confessions....it is sitting on my bookshelf but never read. I'm hoping that my kids and I will read it when we get to Augustine in World History. If you do read it, let me know if it was good.

Lucky you! I have to go the bookstore or library.

 

[blackribbon]

...actually I have two copies from thrift stores...

When I found the second copy a week after I bought the first, I wondered if this was God saying that my kids should read this book. LOL

 

[dayhiker]

I've not read the entire Confessions but I did listen to the teaching companies course on the Confessions. It was interesting to see all that Augustine went thru before he found peace with God and then he becomes the church father that has the longest and most profound impact on the church. I do disagree with Augustine on his view of predestination and that Salvation is in the church. I'm so glad he took a more moderate view of sex than some of those who wants to view even married sex as sinful. But I think the view that became known as total depravity over 100- years later has cause much harm to people. Once I understood Augustine's view of sin as a privation, a lack of good, not a real substance I found that quite freeing. I also like how he wasn't afraid of Greek philosophy as some today think that would be compromise with the world. So I have some mixed feelings about Augustine.

 

[Life2Christ]

I bought the book this morning. Started reading it on the train to work. It was $2.99 on my Nook so I got it, although I could have gotten the 99 cent version too. I'm loving it so far.

 

[Doctor Strangelove]

I read "How the Irish Saved Civilization" some years ago. Very interesting. Ireland was kind of the library for Europe for a long time. A lot of important manuscripts were saved because they were preserved in Irish monasteries. We often don't think about how knowledge has been preserved over the years, and often the people preserving knowledge (preserving ancient manuscripts and such) did so under difficult and sometimes dangerous circumstances.

 

[dayhiker]

Yes, I think the earliest copies of Plato and Aristotle are from the 900's AD. While the earliest Bible copies are from 200's AD. Praise God they are much much closer to when they were originally written.

Just think if the Library of Alexandria Egypt hadn't burned down the knowledge of our ancestors that we would have.

 

[miss-a]

It is soooo inspiring Life2Christ that this trip pointed you to the importance of life in Christ. Thanks for the inspiration. I needed it. My focus has been a bit too much on the world and what I want out of life. Freedom is in focusing on Him and what He wants. So again, thanks for sharing that!

I read parts of Confessions years back when I was reading Augustine, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila and all those folks who had intense experiences with Jesus. I don't recall which points were from Augustine specifically, but I can say that sort of reading was very good for my faith, to be exposed to that sort of dedication to the Lord. I think I need to reread some of those books. Thanks for inspiring that as well!

 

[Doctor Strangelove]

There are a lot of early works that are as helpful now as when they were written, and they are foundational and should not be neglected.

 

[Life2Christ]

I read parts of Confessions years back when I was reading Augustine, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila and all those folks who had intense experiences with Jesus.

I thought of that very same thing this morning. I started reading Confessions on my way to work and it was so deep that I kept saying: What kind of spiritual experience did this man have to write such things? It is just beautiful.

 

[sampa]

Just came back from my trip to Antarctica and I feel like a changed person........

Happy Belated Birthday Life2Christ, that is quite a birthday and its good that you spent the turnover of another decade of life with the Lord. I also turned 40 on January 26th, but not any expiditions for me as I am on call for snowplowing. It is nice to hear that you also get the compliments for age and I can understand the refined character you talking of, I've struggled with this for some time also and am making small attempts at things like carrying a purse, putting on my coat, more crisp shirts than cotton, a scarf and nice shoes. This young trait your speaking of is refereshing to others and also carries a young spirit that is good for witness & open doors for conversation. This can also carry a type of humility the Lord wants in his children...I hope I am on the right track as I may have misread what you were saying?

 

[Life2Christ]

Happy Belated Birthday Life2Christ, that is quite a birthday and its good that you spent the turnover of another decade of life with the Lord. I also turned 40 on January 26th, but not any expiditions for me as I am on call for snowplowing. It is nice to hear that you also get the compliments for age and I can understand the refined character you talking of, I've struggled with this for some time also and am making small attempts at things like carrying a purse, putting on my coat, more crisp shirts than cotton, a scarf and nice shoes. This young trait your speaking of is refereshing to others and also carries a young spirit that is good for witness & open doors for conversation. This can also carry a type of humility the Lord wants in his children...I hope I am on the right track as I may have misread what you were saying?

Wow, happy birthday to you too! Yeah, the young thing you speak of is pretty accurate. I'm really not a sophisticated 40. Everyone tells me I look pretty with my hair down but I always put it in a pony tail. I'm not "put together". When I was younger I used to be sexy & flirty with boys but I lost all that. I have no interest in that..at all. If you knew what I knew & saw what I saw in my life, you wouldn't be either. Its fine for others I guess. I'm happy nonetheless. I really wish I could be more articulate and that is something I have to work on.

 

[sampa]

Wow, happy birthday to you too! Yeah, the young thing you speak of is pretty accurate. I'm really not a sophisticated 40. Everyone tells me I look pretty with my hair down but I always put it in a pony tail. I'm not "put together". When I was younger I used to be sexy & flirty with boys but I lost all that. I have no interest in that..at all. If you knew what I knew & saw what I saw in my life, you wouldn't be either. Its fine for others I guess. I'm happy nonetheless. I really wish I could be more articulate and that is something I have to work on.

Thanks Life2Christ. You really don't need to be sexy & flirty to have a sense of class. My mother has managed it with no makeup, she's a hard worker outdoors but she has a sense about dress. As a Christian there are ways to carry this off, but to get caught up in all these trends and such can be a blow on the esteem & misses the mark in where our identity is in Christ, if that makes sense? I think articulation is a good goal and something that will come with time. I wish my handwriting was better and I said for many years as a teacher in Japan I'd get better & its still not the best. But I am the fastest note taker in church.
Just keep your perspective of who you are in Christ and it will take you far

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

The fastest notetaker in church....I like that!