Happy Birthday!!!

“Birthday, celebration of life.

Celebrate who you are.

Celebrate your uniqueness.

Celebrate your achievement.

Celebrate all that you are capable of becoming.”

― Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great!

Happy Birthday!  Today celebrates the day you were born.  Or maybe it doesn’t. If today is your birthday then, again, happy birthday.  It’s been said that we only have one birth day; all the rest are anniversaries.  Jesus said, “Unless a man (or woman) be born again and be like a little child, he (or she) cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”  Other translations say “the Kingdom of Heaven.  What is that kingdom?  Is it a physical place?  Its King reigns, but He has placed his citizens throughout the world to be bearers of light and truth, to be bearers of peace and joy. In this way we can, each of us, find Purpose.  We can choose at any moment, at this moment, to be born again.  Today can be a happy birthday.

But birth is just the beginning.  Jesus died that we might be born again but, again, birth is just the beginning.  Now is…life.  Now is the day.  Now…what?

We are born for a reason. I believe this with all my heart.  In fact, we were born for many reasons.  We were born to enjoy life.  We were born to discover and grow and play.  We were born to give God pleasure.  And we were born for a mission.  Maybe several missions throughout our lifetimes.  For various causes many do not find their missions in life.  Some don’t want to know.  Some are afraid.  Some don’t care.  Who knows?  But not finding our reason for living does neither invalidates it or changes it.  Our mission is still waiting. Or… Our missions are still waiting.  The gifts we are given on our birthdays belong to us.  The gifts we are given on the day of our birth belong to the world.

 As I reflect on my own life, I think about my birth day and remember that I don’t know when it is.  I don’t know the actual date because I was left on a street corner as an infant.  That means every day could be my birthday.  Today could be the day. There’s a chance I will never know the actual date.  Fortunately, finding my mission is much easier.  It was born into me.  It was weaved into my soul and it often looks like desire, interest, hopes, and the things I love with the deepest part of my soul. It comes from my Muse. It is the thing that inspires me to Get Started and to Keep Going.  It is that thing that makes every day potentially a Happy Birthday.