In case you just tuned in, today's my birthday. Born in '53, turning 53.
In our local Hearst paper, they always run this poem in August on the anniversary of the death of some founder. I think my tradition will be that I will quote a section from one of my favorite books, Here and Now: Living in the Spirit by Henri J.M. Nouwen, a Canadian theologian who died in 1996. (Copyright 1994, published by The Crossroad Publishing Company.)
I share this passage about birthdays, not only for my sake, but, I hope, for yours as well:
Birthdays need to be celebrated. I think it is more important to celebrate a birthday than a successful exam, a promotion, or a victory. Because to celebrate a birthday means to say to someone: "Thank you for being you." Celebrating a birthday is exalting life and being glad for it. On a birthday we do not say: "Thanks for what you did, or said, or accomplished." No, we say: "Thank you for being born and being among us."
...
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. These are ways of saying: "It's good that you are alive; it;s good that you are walking with me on this earth. Let's be glad and rejoice. This is the day that God has made for us to be and to be together."
***
Oh, and thanks, good friend Fred for your kind words today. I assume the use of the color green in the headline was no accident.
7 comments:
Happy birthday to you, my dear friend!
Wishing you a year of magical, wonder-full things.
(And good health- you're at that age where we have to put that in there too!)
Love,
Mary
Okay, fine - Happy Birthday (again). But that's the last time!
Hey, Happy Birthday, ROG!
Happy Ver-Day to you!
Happy Ver-Day to you!
Happy Ver-Day Olde Mon Rojah!
Happy Ver-Day to you!
Let's just consider you well-seasoned with life's experiences and dispense with the candles, shall we?
What a long, strange trip, eh?
Hope you're enjoying the ride!
Love & Peace,
Mark
Hi, Roger,
...and it was fortunate for us to meet you last year at Becky's
wedding.
You're a good guy. I don't care what Leslie says about you!
:-)
Have a good day! (You too, Leslie!)
Bill
Happy Birthday Rog!
Yes, Green was used on purpose! I only wish I had been able to come up with something more elaborate. ( I HAD planned to run a giant headline wishing Alan Sues a Happy 80th, then throwing in YOUR milestone as an
(alleged) afterthought (ha ha), but I couldn't find a decent picture of Sues to go with the gag, and it didn't seem to work without it. But still--Alan Sues is 80! That somehow honestly amazes me...)
I just now had the thought of making a pun out of Green Day--alas, too late. Except, I suppose it's never to early to begin planning for NEXT year! (Although, with 54 in the mix, can a Gunther Toody reference be written off? Ooo! Ooo! I think not!)
Have fun! I enjoyed your quotes about birthdays--I tend to favor them as well, and now I know why!
Fred
Happy Belated Birthday Roger!
I AM glad you are on this earth with me/us!
Great picture of you on your website.
Made me smile - again.
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