Fun found me at 60.

 

A few weeks ago I turned 60. Just as a pumpkin changes into something more I too had reached a milestone. “What is it that pumpkins change to?” I asked myself.
In my mind they have a high in the sky hope of becoming a pie, a magical carriage or are cleverly carved with a glowing grin.

Ok, Approaching 60 I had some twists in my thoughts. The twist? Yes! The twist is a dance that was popular my birth year. It’s also a turn in events. 60 years ago I was in the womb twisting the night away safely nestled waiting for my arrival. When the time was right, a spank, taking a breath and letting out a cry occurred. Not much changes as deep breaths still can lead me to tears.
Age 60 is a time to also laugh. Those first belly laughs as a baby are the best. We’ve all seen a baby sitting in a high chair or on a video where they get tickled at something and the perpetrator does it again and again just to hear the baby’s laugh. They could be laughing at a disappearing spoon or the man in the moon but the laugh is a true hard belly laugh and you get so tickled watching you just start laughing to join in.
I get that.
Now imagine being 60 and going up on a roof in the city and finding yourself locked in on a Ferris wheel going around and around. No one is is line so the operator lets it go a little faster as you pocket your phone and heart while holding on with every dear breath. Someone else finally wants to get on so the operator stops it leaving you at the top all by yourself closer to the clouds than you thought you’d be that day. That’s when life is looking at you sky-high placing you in a teetering kind of mercy seat. I looked straight up to the clouds, closed my eyes and said “Father God, I got on this wheel all by myself. We are pretty close right now. My son and his friend don’t know I’m up here. Help! They can’t hear me. Help! You can. Help! Why am I here?”

When I opened my eyes I turned to gaze out from the magical carriage I was sitting in when I saw it. As green as it was big doing the same thing I was doing.

And then the biggest belly laugh I had in my 60 years rolled out of me. A Praying Mantis? Bahahahahaha!


Laughter filled the air, my seat, and my heart as I read what was staring at me on my phone I carefully wrestled from my pocket.

I looked at it again. You’re kidding me? More laughter! I took a photo of it. I commented on the thread. More laughter. Ok OK, that was a good one God! Do you bring all your children up here for this kind of extreme pleasure? You really should! You had me listening the first time around but this twist? Funny! My oh my! You are FUNNY! Thank you for this laughter. And with that I said my tearful, joy-filled Amen.
I got off the ride and found my son wandering around. He said “Where ya been?” I chuckled then grinned’ “You couldn’t see or hear me but I was up there laughing like a little baby pie turning 60.”

60 like every age is an adventure. God is right there and if you ask, closer than a belly laugh. Taking the time to find “the Joy” in 60 is the best way to live out my days. What is your latest encounter? Did you laugh? Cry? Thank Him?