I am 40 and Reflecting

I turned 40 a week ago so I have taken some time to reflect. Is 40 over the hill with one foot in the grave or is it potentially one foot stepping toward the best years of your life?

The Best of Times or Worst of Times...
...my health insurance went up $50 the day I turned 40. Blue Cross and Blue Shield must be telling me that sickness and poor health are imminent. However, I feel healthier and stronger than I have been in 15 yrs. I have a group of 4 guys that workout and study the Word twice a week. In the past year I have lost 3-4 inches in the waist and knocked off 10 lbs. I love to run, bike, swim, and climb. If I have one foot in the grave it's only because I am using it to get leverage to climb another hill.

... some would advise me that my career is wrapping up and I need to settle in because I won't be "marketable" much longer. I have 20 years of life and vocation experience. I hope to finish my Doctorate and walk in 2010 (one year before my daughter graduates from High School). I do not want to stop learning. I have no less than 30 years to go before I would even hope to retire from what I do. I am not even to the half way mark yet in the work I can do. According to Bob Buford's book, Half-Time, some people at this time of life start wanting to move from the successful careers to a career of significance. I am already there. And I have both. God has blessed me to be able to pastor with great success the greatest congregation on the planet. More than successful, it is having a significant impact on the people of NWA and the world through global partnership and projects. I would not step down from what I do to be the President of the United States.

...some men go through a mid-life crisis when they turn 40 and start looking for their trophy wife. I found my trophy wife and married her 17 years ago. I would marry her again if I had 40 lives to live. When you already have a geninue trophy that you love and fall more in love with every day, why settle for a plastic trophy that is sure to break and leave you and others broken. She is my best friend. We share our dreams with each other and help each other achieve them. She has followed me around the world. And to top it off..."It" is awesome. We are on our Honeymoon, please don't tell us we need to get off of it.

40 is the best year of my life. I can't wait until 41!