Pastor's Message

Birthdays Are Cause for Celebration

Many of our associations with the month of February have to do with love.

Valentine's Day has become close to a national holiday, not only because we love to celebrate love, but also because it's good for business - all those flowers and dinners and chocolates bring a sizable infusion to the mid-winter economy.

It also brightens this dark and cold time of the year.  Nothing like a little love to warm the inner recesses of our hearts.

When I think of February, though, I think of something else: birthdays.  This month marks the natal days of our two most famous and in many ways most important presidents, Washington and Lincoln.

(Remember when we used to celebrate their birthdays on February 22 and 12?) And while I find it less a cause for celebration every year, my birthday is also on the February calendar.

Do you recall how, when you were a child, you used to look forward to your birthday for months?  It was a really big deal.  We got presents and cake and were the center of attention for one whole day.  And the parties were always fun.

Birthdays aren't something I generally look forward to anymore.  They only remind me of the inexorable march of time that I am one year older and farther removed from the days of my youth.

An that's too bad.  Birthdays are much more important than we adults give them credit for.  On our birthdays we celebrate being alive.  More than that, they are opportunities for us to acknowledge just how good our lives really are.  How blessed we are with health and the chance to do so many great things, know so many wonderful people, enjoy the delights of creation.

Birthdays are also the occasion for others to tell us how grateful they are for us.  Cards and hugs and messages imprint on us the regard in which we're held by our families and friends.  They remind us that what is important is not what we do or accomplish, not what we have or who we know, but that we are, here and now.  Presents themselves are signs of other people's joy that we are part of their lives.

I used to pretend my birthday wasn't happening.  Then I met some interesting people who showed me how important birthdays really are.  One older woman I know took her entire birthday week off from work and did exactly what she wanted every day - it was her gift to herself.  Others reminded me that I am not lacking humility or drawing undue attention to myself if I say, "Hey, world, I'm still here and I'm happy about it."

Henri Nouwen once wrote: "Celebrating a birthday reminds us of the goodness of life, and in this spirit we really need to celebrate people's birthdays every day, by showing gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness and affection."

I'm planing on celebrating my birthday this year.  I hope that you are too.  It would be a good and loving thing to do for yourself.

                                                                                                                                              — Pastor Ed