Some (somewhat) mortal thoughts about turning 49

You never want to wear the red shirt

Tomorrow I turn 49. I realize that 49 is just a number – it comes after 48 and it's right before 50. But the fact that I am one year away of leaving my 40's behind me for good has put me in a somewhat reflective frame of mind.

For one thing, I'm most likely already past the half way mark in my life. Even if I were to celebrate my 98^th birthday 49 years from now, on that day will I even know who all those smiling people are and why they are trying to spoon feed me some sugary white stuff? Historically, Martin men have not made it out of their 80s and while I'm all for setting a new precedent the genes may be against me.

"Go on and kiss de girl..."

For another thing, I'm aging. Even though I've been running since I was 38 and consider myself in relatively good shape (my weight notwithstanding), in the last few years I've dealt with various running ailments which take me longer to recover from. What's more, half the hair I still own is gray or graying. And as funny as I think the voice overs for all those Viagra and Ciallis commercials are...well...I now understand why there is a market for them. (I think of that guy in It's A Wonderful Life who sits on his front porch listening to George make small talk to Mary and finally in exasperation says, “Why don't you kiss 'er instead of talkin' her to death...?” When George hesitates, the old guy throws up his hands and states, “Youth is wasted on the wrong people!” Indeed.)

Looking back on the “first 48” here is the short list of a few of my accomplishments and experiences:

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  Me at 3 days

  I was born (sadly, not every baby gets that opportunity these days)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I was born again just prior to my 18^th birthday now nearly 31 years ago
• I graduated from high school, Bible school and a liberal arts college

• 

  Linda at 19

  I was lucky enough to find a beautiful woman who loved me anyway and married me in spite of my questionable prospects
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Still lovely

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  At the Choo Choo in Superior 2000

  
  
• I have fathered four wonderful children who make me humble and proud at the same time
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  I have been blessed to serve as the pastor of a wonderful faith community for nearly 20 years.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• In 1993, we bought a (now) 120 year-old house and have slowly been able to remodel it

• 

  Twin Cities '09

  I have run (to date) 8 marathons and over 60 shorter races
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I founded a youth group which ran for 11 years and was a co-founder of another one that is presently in its eighth year of operation
• I helped start our local youth center (11 years and counting), a local mentoring program (8 years) and a ministry focused on reaching out to our Somali neighbors in nearby Barron (3 years)

• 

  Playing Fagin at the Barn

  I have performed on various stages of Barron County and have been fortunate enough to play roles that have made people laugh
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I have served as Chetek-Weyerhaueser Cross Country Coach for three seasons with hopes of many more to come
• I've had the opportunity to minister in Canada, Mexico and the Philippines on a handful of occasions

It's not what I would call the resume' of an A-lister, but over the course of my 48 years I have met scores of wonderful people who have enriched my life and in return, I have sought to pass some of their richness on. I am content and I concur with what the psalmist affirms in Psalm 16:

“LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;

you have made my lot secure.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in

pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.” (vv.5-6, NIV)

Now, looking ahead, I think of all the things for me to do or attempt that remain on my “Bucket List” such as:

"BAYONETS!"

Stand at the left flank marker of the 20^th Maine atop Little Round Top at Gettysburg and shout “BAYONETS!” (I duly crossed this off the list last summer when Ed, Christine, Emma and I did this not once but four times, once for each one of our cameras)

Hike the Ice Age Trail in its entirety.

Run every public road in Barron County at least once.

There's a first time for everything, right?

Run the Antarctica Marathon.

Write the definitive Martin family history and perhaps put to rest the question only a few Martins really worry about: Did we emigrate from Scotland or Ireland?

Travel to either country of origin to say (in so many words) “A Martin has returned”

Write something that others would find worth reading (my Mom and Dad as fans don't really count) and, oh yeah, pay for it.

To canoe the entire length of the Red Cedar River from Lake Chetac in Sawyer County to the Chippewa River some 85 miles south.

It's enough to keep me occupied for many years to come.

I'm not depressed but I am mindful that time is passing by, that my parents and my children are getting older and more of my life is behind me than ahead. It provokes me to pray that line from the Psalm of Moses: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (90:12). Selah. Hallelujah and Amen.