Sixty-seven is biting at my heels. That is three years from seventy. Time flies when you are having fun. Born a week before Halloween. Autumn’s child. The trees are resplendent with color. Hope beats heartily. Time is seamless. Happiness is not contingent on others.

It is possible to be so enamored with life that the years seem like months and the months are but days.

Some seem to seek the bad, domineering know-it-all person. I can not relate to this, but I have observed its proclivity. I know that most people are smarter than I and am humbled to be in their presence. Treating others like I want to be treated is my axiom. Peace is my subject.

In the United States, we love money. We admire the strong man especially if he is rich. Money and bombast are equated with wisdom. ‘Wisdom is known of her children.’

Simple is my sense of place. We are here but a moment. This is lost on us. The Christian life has been a solace to me. Christ did not focus on money. He focuses on the poor among us. The poor are my people. I have been one of them. Their feelings of marginalization are keen. I remember the feeling.

We speak of mansions and streets paved with gold. Many hope to be kings or queens in heaven. They know the Big Guy wants that model. The homeless girl sits behind the Broadway Theatre. Her clothes are ragged, she is hungry, and she hopes for a few coins from the audience as they pass by after the show.

Adoration is fleeting. The sycophant moves on. There is another Con next door. Time is scurrying in our lives. We are pro-life until the poor child needs food. We move on to the next battle.

Praise is on gossamer wings. We seek it here and we seek it there. It is elusive. The old man holds out his soup bowl. He has not eaten in a few days. When the rich see him they cross over to the other side of the street… They are embarrassed to be seen with him.

It is easy to lose the plot. The quiet is not seen or heard. The noise drowns them out. The shut-in is lonely for the human contact they relished when they were young and healthy.

So, by grace, I have the luxury of celebrating my birthday. Many do not…