50-25-50

Yesterday, my husband and I celebrated 25 years of marriage.  Even though it was cold and rainy here in Ottawa, it was a special time of awe and disbelief.  It's hard to believe that we've survived, and that we can still laugh and dream and enjoy each other's company.  Perhaps we're together because both us never really thought of divorce as an option.  That hasn't meant that everything's been smooth sailing.  In fact, at points our marriage has been downright rough around the edges. And yet I can't say how glad I am that we've come through all the tough times and are still together.

Many years ago a friend of mine told me that if you make it to 25 years, the time following will be like a re-birth.  I'm sensing that that is the opportunity ahead of us.  To be content is a great gift and with that contentment comes the freedom to be adventuresome.  There's nothing to prove and in terms of our relationship, nothing to fear.

The other big event is that my husband ALSO turned 50 yesterday.  For some reason, we decided to get married on his birthday.  He always gets teased about the fact that it must be easy to remember his anniversary.  This double celebration is a good and bad thing.  Sometimes it does feel that one gets shortchanged in relationship to the other marker.

With such a double marker coming on the same day, it doesn't quite feel that we've celebrated either.  However, we're working on remedying that.  For we are having a big smashing party on Sept. 5 AND our congregations (my husband is also a UC minister) is having a party for us on May 30.

The other milestone -- I turned 50 last Dec. 25 (yes, on Christmas Day) -- and so we've dubbed this year our 50-25-50 celebration.  It sort of sounds like a fertilizer, doesn't it?

What does this have to do with ministry?  After fourteen years of pastoral ministry, I feel more settled in my skin and in my relationship.  When these aspects of your life are going well, you can be strong and vibrant in your work.  For that I am extremely grateful, thanking God for the amazing gifts I have been given.  I pray that I can continue to do this work.  I was so afraid of turning 50, thinking that my life was half over.  Yet, I don't feel that way now.  I realize that every minute and day is a gift no matter your age.  And when you truly see that, age is irrelevant.