Approaching 30

I turned 29 this summer. Now most of my friends have either turned 30 or are fast-approaching it just as I am.


For the last couple of years I have been a little freaked out about turning 30. Karina always says, "You're married. You have a kid (2 now). And you are in the career you want. What else did you want to accomplish by the time you turned 30?" She has a really good point. I have absolutely nothing to complain about. I have a beautiful, wonderful wife. I have 2 sons who I love a lot. I am in a job that I would be dreaming about were I not doing it.

So, why is 30 so intimidating? As I put it to one friend, "The older I get, the less remarkable I become." Come on, I bet a lot of you relate. If you are at a certain point of maturity or ability when you are 20, people marvel at it. However, when you turn 30 people are no longer talking about how far ahead you are of where you should be. Not that I was ever a star or anything, but approaching 30 just makes me feel more and more normal. Average. It has really made me realize how self-consumed I can be. I still joke about turning 30, but I have really tried to repent before God of being so proud and wanting people to be impressed with me. It is not about me.

The other thing about approaching 30 is that it has made me really think through what it means to be a complete adult. I will no longer be in my 20s. I need to fully embrace adulthood and not make excuses for immaturity.

On the fun side, all of this has made me think through the question, "How Old is Too Old?" Let's do it as a game. If you want, you can respond and debate me on these:

How Old Is Too Old. . .

To play video games? 32. Recently moved up from 25 due to video games becoming more mainstream.

To wear a sports jersey to somewhere other than a sporting event? 22. Or whenever you graduate from college.

To watch a Lindsey Lohan movie? 20. Once the teen years are over, no more Lindsey. Of course, if you are a man, the answer is 4.

To play Pokemon? 8. This goes out to some college students I know. If you're still messing around with this, with Dungeons and Dragons, or with any such thing, STOP! Please. You're too old.

To play touch football with friends? 28. Basketball and softball are okay. Football just becomes pathetic.

To read a Harry Potter book? 18. I know some of you hate this, but it is time to read adult books. And I don't mean adult books in a bad way.

To dress up as a movie character while going to see that movie (anything from Star Wars to Lord of the Rings)? 11. Gotta get it out of your system before junior high.

To declare a college major? 22. This does not apply to those who go back to college after a long absence. It applies only to those who reach their junior or senior year and are still "undecided." Gotta choose something.

Now the other Side. How Young is Too Young. . .

To grow a moustache? 30. Any younger and you just look like a stalker (or worse). Now, you can have a full beard or goatee before 30, but not the moustache only.

That's it. Just wanted to say that. Seth, had you turned 30 by the time you made that small group video? I hope so. Everyone, click here and then watch Seth's video called "Size Matters": http://www.sermonspice.com/listings/producer/276/concept-81/. He has a moustache. And also, it is really funny.

Good day to all 30 year olds out there. And happy goatee-growing to all pre-30 year olds out there (I guess this applies only to men).