Here it is, already February, one-twelfth of the year already gone. So swiftly the days pass by now that I'm in my fiftieth year. The folks I knew when I was younger, those who seemed so ancient, tried to tell me that the time would come when birthdays would come two at a time. Has it been eleven months since I reached the half century mark? Yes, it has. Much has changed since that March day almost a year ago. Perhaps you've heard of some of them. At least you've no doubt heard of the most dramatic. I make no apology for the times when I have used this space to invite you to take a look into some personal experience that has taken place in my life. The truth is that many of you have told me this is the most endearing quality of this particular column. I thank you for those affirmations. So it becomes a point of interest for me to share a bit of news that is of great importance for me and my family.

In June of this year we will push the tiller of our lives toward the sail and change course. We will begin a new adventure on our zig-zag way toward the Kingdom. We've made a choice. Someone said that it is not our abilities that define us in this life. Rather, it is our choices. The Lord has made me an offer I could refuse, but, when all is said and done, why would I want to? Why would I choose to let such an opportunity pass without going for it? The change in direction of which I speak is the launching of a new era of ministry for me. I will become a full time evangelist in June. In making that choice it is necessary to leave the parish ministry that I have been involved in for twenty years. The dear people of First United Methodist Church here in Troy have been so gracious and kind; they have been warm and welcoming. The bitterness of the cup that has been passed to me is found in the leaving of these friends. The cup is also sweet in that the Lord I love has given me a vision of new horizons toward which I will sail. So the choice has been made and the work is before me. There is simply a new course, or a new view of the course that God has desired and designed for me. Surprisingly, many people have asked if the choice is because of frustration or anger or disillusionment. The answer, of course, is no. The choice is to follow my heart toward the goal that Christ has revealed to me.

The story is told of a day when someone came upon Saint Francis as he was hoeing his garden. They asked what he would do if he were suddenly informed that he would die at sunset. He said, "I should finish hoeing my garden." Well, there is a garden that I am called to care for. In the process of going about this ministry I am striving to learn patience and satisfaction, to be less frantic, less anxious and more aware of the precious nature of time. None of us have forever to do that which we are born to do. God has numbered our days and the Psalmist prays that the Lord will, "teach us to number our days," too. At fifty there are no doubt fewer days for me to number, but there are still enough that I should be about my Father's business.

On a lighter note. Recently Morton Dean, a commentator on National Public Radio told a very personal story. Here it is: "This was a special summer for me. I will never be the same. I hit a home run. I had never hit a home run before, and I'm sixty-eight years old!" That's how the story began. Dean concluded the story this way: "So, what has changed about me since that super Sunday? Well, I walk differently. 'Man, I hit a home run,' my walk seems to say...I think differently. I will finish that novel. I will paint that painting. I will hit another home run. And I reinvested in the notion that it makes sense for older people to hang out with younger people, on the ball field and off. I believe even more fervently now that you should aspire to things that appear to be beyond your reach. I aspire to be younger."

Some things appear beyond our reach, but that is in appearance only. If God calls us to it then it is well within our reach. My prayer is that we will all reach for the prize God has for us.