This weekend I will pass a milestone birthday: 20....wait, 30...Whoops...GEEZ...I can't even type it...

...which means only one thing: My parents are getting reeeeeeeeeallly old!


Well, here's the truth--as much as I have made a big deal about turning 30, I'm not really sad about it.  Only a little. 
My twenties have been good to me, and I've learned a lot of great life lessons in the past ten years that I will share with you now (in true bloggity form) and in no particular order:

1) You Don't Know All That You Think You Know

When I got out of college, I pretty much thought I knew it all.  I was pompous, haughty, and often frustrated with others that weren't on the same "let's hurry up and change the world right NOW" path as I was.  I was an idiot.  Just ask poor Michael Roberson who had to deal with me that year...The more time that went by, the more I realized I didn't know jack squat about life.  Even now, I continue to find this the case---the more you learn, the more you realize you don't know anything. 


2) Husband and Father Are Job Number #1

It is hard being a good husband (I know, because I stink at it most of the time) and it's HARD being a good dad (again, working on it) but these are the most important roles I will ever play in my life.  It's possibly the hardest thing ANY guy will ever do...which is why so many fail.  But in all of my dealings as a pastor or friend over the past ten years, I've noticed that the bulk of issues that individuals deal with in their lives stem from bad dads and or bad marriages.   I know I'm being super general here--and I'm trying to be--but let me just say this: I've grown keenly aware that the way I treat my wife and kids RIGHT NOW will impact them forever.  Believe me, I've already seen my greatest weaknesses personified in my sons, and it scares me...


3) Relationships Matter Most

It doesn't matter what you know.  Who are your friends?  How is your family? (Wow, that sounds trite when I read it back...but I really do believe it's true.  You can tell a lot about a person by what kind of company they keep).

The most profound moment on The Office takes place during an episode titled, "Business School".  In this episode, Ryan hurts Michael's feelings by saying--in front of his whole class at business school--that the paper business will be obsolete in 5 years.  Michael gets mad and storms out of the classroom...later on in the episode, just when you think he's going to fire Ryan, he says something deeply profound to this young salesman.  He says, "It's about people, Ryan--people.  And people never go out of business."
Tru dat, fools. 

If you want to improve your life, work on your relationships with others.


4) Shutup and Listen

I don't ever learn anything when I'm the one doing the talking.  It pays to listen to those older and wiser than you.  Also, I'm not a big fan of interrupting.  Sometimes you just need to shut up and listen.


5) Laziness Doesn't Put Food on the Table

Work hard, peeps, otherwise you're going to go hungry.  Gone are the days of the cushy jobs with big salaries.  Nobody can afford that anymore.  You're going to have to earn your keep.  So work hard.



I think I might have some more in me, but I fear I'm starting to sound like a Tony Robbins book on tape or something.
Ugh.


In closing, let me say this:
Thank you to all that have been a friend in the past 10 years.  I'm grateful for you and the role you've played during my twenties.  Let the next decade be even more glorious!
Hoorah!

Nathaniel loves babies.  He's adorable when he gets around them...so sweet and tender. 

We spent a day in Alabama visiting Dustin and Joli (and Ryli and Silas and Baby Malachi), and Nathaniel OUT OF THE BLUE comes up to me while we're paying for lunch at the Cracker Barrel--and this is the conversation that transpired:

"Dad, can you get your stuff back?"

"What stuff?"

"Your stuff.  Can you get your stuff back?"

"Nathaniel, what are you talking about? What stuff?"

"Your baby stuff.  I WANT A BABY SISTER!!"

(shocked and awed)
"No, honey.  NO."


HAHAHAHAHAHAHA