If you looked at yourself from 30 years ago, what would you see?

Maybe you aren’t even 30 yet. Whatever age you are, what do you see when you reflect? Have you ever done the work? Have you just grown up and never looked back? What work have you done to grow? Did you just fit into life, and you are who you are, and never gave it any further thought? Would you act or react the same way you did 30 years ago? Do you get up each day and just do what is front of you, or do you get up with purpose and drive? Do you look for change, or do you look for same? Would you? Could you? Wait 30 years? Or, have you waited 30 years? Do you even have 30 years left?

The only thing I know people wait that long for, is retirement.

Jesus did not start His ministry until he was 30. Why do you suppose that is?

We don’t have a lot of information about Jesus, until he started His ministry when he was 30. Of course, we all know the big story of His birth. We know that he was raised in a Jewish household and would have learned the Torah. After His birth, we don’t see Jesus again, until He was the age of 12. He was in the Temple, discussing religious teachings and His understanding of the scriptures. We also know that Jesus was a carpenter during His first 30 years. It is generally agreed upon that Jesus lived an ordinary life during His first 30 years. It is also generally agreed upon that during His first 30 years, Jesus was most likely helping His family, developing His skills, and deepening His understanding of the Scriptures, in preparation for His 3-year ministry.

Perhaps, you have been given the life your parents didn’t have. Isn’t that what all parents strive for – To give you better than they had? One can only hope, that in that gift, they worked so hard to give to you, that they provided, if not by themselves as a foundation and example, at least resources, for lessons in growth and maturity. I pose the question this way. Were you taught, “How to do life”?

No matter what your story and how good or how not so good you may have had it, some sort of sorrow, hurt, anger, pain or fear has impacted you along your journey. How could it not? Yet, some have been hurt more than others. Some have been protected. Some have been taught, “the lessons of life.” Others, however, were brought up in harsh environments and mostly shown, “What not to do.” It’s not their fault. They were shown or had to rely on survival skills only, in many areas of their life. Or, maybe you were given blended messages of health in one area and dysfunction in another. Not knowing the truth, you learned both good and bad and had to find out the hard way, the difference from right and wrong.

As we walked and walked to our destination, the memories of my past flooded in. However, the experience for my 15-year-old son was just his reality, as he was taking it all in. We watched a man who was most likely in his early 60’s, act seemingly no different than he did 30 years ago. Foul language ripped from his mouth, every other word. He wobbled as he walked, and his laughter sounded evil. The man was already visibly intoxicated, and the event wouldn’t start for another 2 hours. My son said, “Look at that guy, he is already drunk.” 30 years ago, this would have been a common site in this scene. That day, it was only observable in limited small quantities. I looked over at my son and said, “Some things don’t change for some people.” Followed up with, “I am sure it is the same way it is for him now, as it was 30 years ago.”

What would I teach my son today? Why would I bring him to such a place? Shouldn’t I hide and protect him from such observable immaturities? Shouldn’t I only take him to pure places? Well if you answered yes to those questions, where is that safe place? Is it your house? Because I am sure nothing wrong ever happened in your house, right? And what about the church? Isn’t that supposed to be a safe space? Theoretically you are correct. I should, at all costs, keep my son safe and protected from the dangers of this world. However, dangers lurk in every corner. Even your church. While church would be my first choice of safe places to choose from to take my son, the reality is, that just like Jesus, we have to participate in helping our family, develop our skills and prepare ourselves for our agency.

We need to learn the difference of right from wrong and we should be well on our way in our first 30 years. If you are not, maybe it’s time you take the stage to look at yourself and take the giant leap to taking the lead to a better you. If you are well on your way, then perhaps you are now ready to take on something even better.

This weekend was leadership Sunday at our church. The leaders of our church were recognized and re-installed for another year. As Sunday School leaders, my wife and I were part of that ceremony. On a personal level, I have been talking about lack of spiritual leadership in my own circumstances. Change in this area is not even on the horizon as best I can tell.

The only thing I can see, is to lead myself as a leader to others, through the lead of Jesus.

I have been doing some intentional thinking on deepening my messaging here at Give Your Story. I need to take what I have started and refine it and bring it into focus. I need a target audience. I have been acutely aware of this for quite some time. Unfortunately, I have a job just like everyone else. My time is limited. However, this is the best job I ever had. If I could, I would spend my days full time, building my ministry, working for God, spreading the word. I do believe that as I continue with my work, the Fruit will reveal itself as I hone my messaging.

I am not sure where I am headed. I have some ideas. I am not willing to wait 30 years to find out. A new project scope is on the Horizon.

What’s on your Horizon?