Soap Box

October 28th will be my 78th birthday and I'm just sitting here wondering what, if anything, it represents, some significant milestone or chronological line I'll be crossing that will change my perspectives or effect my mind set or alter my personality in some cynical way so often associated with old men in their eighth decade.

Will I wax more philosophical in my dialogue, render opinions of great insight, develop unusual inner wisdom and foresight, become the silver haired oracle whose sage pontifications are sought out and treasured by those of lesser years?

Are you kidding?

78 is just a number, a way of keeping up with the passage of time, neither enhancing nor hindering the mental and physical processes of those who's priority is to live life to its fullest, to squeeze every drop of juice out of every passing day, who views each day as a gift from God, a brand new page to fill up with busy and fulfilling endeavors, letting whatever talent The Almighty gave you rise to the top and lead you in fruitful directions.

Admittedly, most people my age can't jump three feet off the floor or win marathons or dunk basketballs, but we know the shortcuts, which potholes to avoid and where all the bodies are buried.

We generally have a pretty good eye for what's real and what ain't, for who can and who can't and we can spot a phony a mile away.  

We've already had the wool pulled over our eyes, the rug jerked out from under us and are well seasoned at snipe hunting. We've been there and done that and went back for a second helping, we've bought the pig in the poke, the pie in the sky and have chalked it all off to experience learned the hard way.

We've learned that if something sounds too good to be true, it really is, that nothing excepting the grace of God is free and that chasing dreams can be rewarding or crushing.

I could easily sit here and say, �where did all those years go, they passed so swiftly" but to tell you the truth when I start pulling out the memories one by one, the things I've done, the places I've been, the people who have touched my life, it could well have been 178 years.

There are some things I know for certain, some things I suspect and a whole lot of things I wish I knew.

I know for certain that you can never hide from God.

I've learned that the love of a good woman and the adoration of a child could never be replaced by anything on earth, and I have been blessed with both.

I know for certain that the character of a man is no better than his word.

I know that telling the truth is the baseline of honesty and that being honest with ourselves and with others is a huge block in the foundation of a fulfilling life.

I know that doing to others as we would have them do to us not only gives inner peace but also comes back to you in dividends.

I know that each day is important and never knowing when it could be our last should be lived accordingly.

I know that God is good, and that life is beautiful and sacred.

I know that the world can be a scary place but that if we just tend to our little corner of it and protect what we're responsible for we've done all we can.

78? Bring it on!

What do you think?

Pray for our troops and the peace of Jerusalem.

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels​