To my readers, I hope you will excuse a moment of personal privilege on my 44th birthday, June 20th. I wrote the following note on my Facebook page at the end of an absolutely wonderful birthday. I share this with you because sometimes we just need to applaud God publicly. At least, in some small way that is my intent in writing and posting this piece.
I also feel a great deal of gratitude toward you my readers. I don’t know some of you personally; nevertheless, I am so very grateful for you. You allow me to be invisibly a part of your world–a treasured part of your world–your walk with God. It humbles me that you would let me do so. Sometimes I feel a bit presumptious to write this thing called The Practical Disciple and then I remember a definition of evangelism I once heard, “Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” To God I say, “Thank you.” To everyone else I say, “Come and get it! There is plenty for everyone. God’s goodness is never-ending!”
So following is a declaration of abundance. It is a shout from my heart to the world on my 44 birthday that life is good and God is good.
I awoke today to a beautiful day. I arose and greeted the day with joy for I am blessed. That is sort of a morning mantra that I do almost everyday. I often append it with telling God that I want to be a part of whatever he has in mind for the day. That’s new for me over the last couple of year. I used to ask him to help me. I am trying to flip that around.
When I say, “I am blessed” I believe and mean it, but today I felt it more tangibly. So what did today bring? How was it so good? For me it was perfect. It wouldn’t be the day most people would pick. Almost immediately upon awaking I looked to see if I had received my “birthday wish”. I asked friends to help me bump up the number of my blog subscribers to over one hundred for my birthday. The result–105. Yeah!
From 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. I mentored a young man in animal tracking. It was blessed hot. I literally sweated off 3 pounds. I can’t number the tracks I looked at. I do know that I saw 9 different species. At one point on a single section of trail, I had 61 popsicle sticks laying on the ground marking nothing but coyote tracks. There were more. I was just out of sticks. We made some plaster casts, talked a bit about bird language and afterwards as we were driving away from the park I saw Staghorn Sumac. I cut some seed heads and brought it home and made “Indian Lemonade.” Oh, I almost forgot, I also think I found what will be my new sit spot! This really feels like a gift straight from God.
My family and I stayed at home, grilled burgers, opened cards, presents and ate this crazy delicious cinnamon cake. Yum. I got some great trail pants from my in-laws. A yoga tape, a mountain of Reeses peanut butter cups, and a gift card from my family. A phone call from my parents. The whole day all I could think is–God is good, really good. (Well, except for when I was sitting on the trail thinking, “I believe I might just burst into flames right here” Did I mention it was hot?) To top it all off, I hopped online and ended the day with finding a rainstorm of Happy Birthday messages from family and friends.
Not only was today great, this whole year has been a year of abundance. Here are a couple of highlights that will be with me for a long time: God’s gift of First Presbyterian Church of Texarkana, 8 months ago. (May I be a good steward of it.) Biking during Lent. (May I pedal for a long time to come) Cleansing and yoga over the past few months. Losing 14 pounds during that time and feeling the healthiest I have felt in years. (May I maintain body holiness) Growth and Development of The Practical Disciple (May it honor God and help people in ever widening circles). Reconnecting with my friend Angie Southard via facebook–it was like finding a piece of me that had gone missing. (may we never loose that connection). Nature studies with my SKA buddies (You know who and what you are). Seeing and being a part of the growth of Ozark Tracker Society. Tanning my first deer hide. Going on my first cruise to Cozumel with my son. Swimming with dolphins. Seeing Chitzen Itza. Matt’s courage in facing stitches and needles ten days ago. Laughing so uncontrollably hard with my daughter after a movie that I thought I was going to have to pull the car over and for the life of me, I don’t know what was so terribly funny. Eating lots of gelato. Playing Drake in Annie. The amazing people that my wife Susan, daughter Ruth, and son Matthew continue to grow into each day. (May God let me continue to be a part of this for many many years to come) I could list so many more things, but I think I will just close with this…
I love my life. I love my family. I love my friends. I love God. I hope I can make you all feel as special and loved as you all make me feel. I don’t know if I will live 44 more seconds or 44 more years. And you know…right now… it really doesn’t matter. I want a lot more time, but honestly I cannot complain. I certainly haven’t earned the abundance of my life and I have lacked in no way. At this point I count each day as grace and that’s the way it should be.
Thankfully desiring to serve more each day, God willing,
John Arnold, June 20, 2009
Happy Birthday John! The 20th was my dad’s 80th birthday so I am already fond of the day. My dad is an incredible man. He’s my hero!
I really have enjoyed reading your blog. You have blessed me through it. I find you a “real” person who really loves God and people. You are a regular person who struggles but works for good in your own life and also the lives of others. I’ve never met you in person but I imagine you are constantly being Jesus to others. John keep up the wonderful job! Here’s to another 44!
Thanks Laurie your comments are very inspiring. I am blessed to get to write posts. There is something about the process that helps me learn and grow each time I post. How wonderful that I get to share a birthday with your dad/hero. I am honored. Blessings.