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 Today I am 59 years old. Unlike my wife Nell who deplores to tell her age, actually won’t tell her age, I will tell mine (and sometimes hers to her dismay and my regret). I am just one year away from significant discounts as a senior citizen. While returning from a trip to western Kentucky not long ago, Nell and I stopped at Mr. Gatti’s Pizza in Leitchfield. The girl at the cash register asked if we were senior citizens. I told her it was fine to ask that of me, but she had offended my wife. From where I sit, I am an amazingly young 59. Â
Being 59 does make you think about life and death. I have reasonably good health, enough to exercise regularly by walking, playing racquetball and golfing (OK, golfing is not much exercise when you ride in a cart). Although I am very competitive, I do enjoy playing golf, especially with sons Todd and Scott (except when they act like I used to on the course). Â
For me, family makes life delightful and meaningful. Our first born, Todd, came into this world right before I completed my MDiv in Louisville. He is engaging, entrepreneurial and very Earwood – in the best sense. The latest with son Scott is that he and Jennifer have our first grandchild, four month old Kaden Gregory Earwood, named after his father, Gregory Scott, and his grandfather, Gregory Charles. He is wonderful, but I wonder what life will be like for him in the next 58 years and 8 months. When he turns 59 in 2067, how will his life be?
Our third and youngest child, Angela, turned 23 yesterday. We planned for a third child and hoped for a girl. Because of Nell’s age when pregnant with her (I won’t say how old) and possible complications of normal delivery, a C-section was planned, but could have been postponed for a day. Then Angela and I could have shared the same birthday. But we thought she should have her own birthday and proceeded with her coming into this world on November 12. For the first time since then, we were not together yesterday to celebrate her birthday. Angela lives in Wingate, NC and works at Wingate University where her fiancé Jon is completing his senior year. They will be married on May 23, 2009 before they go off to seminary, a story familiar to my wife and me. We are blessed with three loving and thoughtful children.
Being 59 makes you grateful for life, but also mindful of your own mortality. This is especially true for me since my father died of colon cancer at the age I am now. I have been thinking about this for several years (and having checkups regularly). He died too young. Before Angela was born, before Kaden Gregory was born. My mother, the primary source of my spirituality and Southern manners, died in 1999. Â
Last week I delivered the message at a funeral in Murray for the family of a friend who was 79. Such a time makes you think. I told an attorney friend that I wanted to update our will before the end of this year. What will the next 20 years be like if I am fortunate to live that long? What difference will my life have made? Will my remaining time at Baptist Seminary of Kentucky have a lasting, even eternal impact? May it be so. May God help it to be so. Â
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