My 20 year class reunion took place this past weekend and has me waxing nostalgic. I pulled out my old scrapbooks and found myself face-to face with a me that was two decades younger.
I clearly recall 20 years ago. The starry wide-eyed dreams I had. How I couldn't wait to graduate from high school to get on with my real life. I packed up my little life and headed off to Howard University carrying around my dream of becoming a writer. Armed with a journalism degree, I then packed up my car, drove south from the Bay Area to Los Angeles--the bright lights and big city were screaming my name and I came running. My dreams of writing no longer sitting in the clouds somewhere. It didn't take long for me to land a writing gig that I loved--interviewing celebrities, visiting movie sets. Fun stuff.
Looking back, I see how God exceeded some of my wildest dreams. And I see how some of my dreams died a violent death. The sting still sits visible on my skin from those moments. Yet God is in the midst of resurrecting some of those broken dreams as only He can. And as I look back over where I've been, I can't help but wonder what I can still become. I've got a lot more living to do. I know God is calling me to something bigger than myself and I'm excited (and a bit scared) at the outcome.
We are never too old to become what we were meant to be.
Abraham was promised to become a father of many nations at the age of 99.
Sarah was 90 when God told her she would give birth to a child.
Noah was nearly 500 years old when God commissioned him to build the ark.
Moses was 80 years old when he led the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Doesn't matter how old we are. Doesn't matter what lies behind us. Mistakes that tripped us up, can be used as stepping stones to our higher purpose. And God can do His greatest work in us even when we think our days are numbered.
I'm looking back 20 years and seeing all that I've accomplished. All I didn't accomplish. And I'm looking forward--marveling at what is yet to be.
What can I still become?
Who can you still become?
