30 Things You Could Learn from a Woman over 50.

May 18

I remember when I thought 30 was forever away. Now it seems as though it was last week in this life that keeps propelling forward at a rate somewhere between feverishly fast and awkwardly slow. My friend Sarah McCarten (who I met through Elora Nicole’s Story101 eCourse) is celebrating her 30th birthday today. Well actually, she started celebrating six hours before it pinged my calendar, because she lives in England. She is from Bradford, lives in Richmond in South West London, but often “potters about” in Watford. I want to potter about. It sounds divine.

To celebrate her birthday, Sarah has invited folks to share their “30 Things…” lists. I opted to share 30 random things this gal has learned (or is still learning) in her 5+ decades on this earth. Enjoy the list, and wish her a jolly good birthday! And while you’re at it, what advice would you add to the list?

Thirty Things You Could Learn from a Woman Over 50.

The Real Milestones

Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around …

Make Yourself Comfortable.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the word “abide.” It’s used in scripture but not so much in everyday conversation – “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you…” For years, I thought that verse was more a warning than an encouragement, more about “better make …

Come Away, My Beloved

I am simply captivated by this devotional written in the 1800s. He calls us His beloved, He pursues us with great passion, He calls us to rise. My heart smiles at the thought. Here’s hoping your heart will join in. “Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.” …

Hush. There’s Hope.

The windows are open, filling the room with sweet spring green beauty and the symphony of birds. There is a hush to this day. And then sirens in the distance take me to Wednesday. And Monday. And 18 months ago. And 8 years ago. And 12 years ago. And 18 …

This isn’t about the Uproar.

This week, a man went on trial for murder. Eight of them. Seven infants. One woman. This week, there was an uproar that more was not made of the moment. And there was an uproar that much has already been made to a world gone deaf. But this isn’t about …

Vulnerable (willing).

This isn’t really a story, but more about the beginnings of one. Call it a diary entry – or a pledge – or a reminder to not be afraid. The words may be for no one but me. Or they may be for you too. “Something in you has changed. …

In the Deafening Silence.

Rooster crows. Doves cry. Hammers ring. People jeer. Voice cries out. Thunder echoes. Stone scrapes. {deafening silence} Stone scrapes. Doves cry. One weeps. One speaks. People cheer. It’s Saturday. The day bracketed between death and resurrection, between gravity and eternity. The Sabbath – a day linking the stories of old …

30 Pieces.

If I had one last meal, I wouldn’t spend it with the person I knew would betray me – Love does. ~ Bob Goff They’ve been with Him through thick and thin, have travelled with Him for years. They’ve seen miracle after miracle, have witnessed His awesome transfiguration, have …

Father of the Hand-written.

There is not one who slips by unnoticed. There is not one who is anonymous to Him. Every name, every face, every small detail. He knows. All divinely hand-made, with definitions that go beyond what our feeble minds can comprehend when we try to imagine “fearfully and wonderfully.” All created …

The Perfect One. (to Ian)

Yes, most of the posts on this blog – in the section marked “life” – are about this ChristStumbler. The stories are about things I’m being taught as I walk this clumsy road somewhere between gravity and eternity. And I guess in a way this post is about me, because …