Birthday thoughts

I turn 30 today. Each decade change has its own connotations (20s: sports car; 30s: minivan) but the transition to 30 also seems to be the dividing line between people saying, “Wow, she’s accomplished so much for her age” to “What’s your point?” If someone leads a growing, healthy church, writes an acclaimed book, or begins a dynamic ministry in his 20s, we’re amazed at his insights and potential. A 35 year old is assumed to be doing those things.

Or take the “emerging leaders” thing. My friend Kyle is six years older than I am, and his pastor still refers to him as an “emerging” leader. Have you already-emerged leaders created a criteria list for exactly when someone transitions from one stage to another? Does one have to make a certain amount of money, have baptized a set number of people, be married, have kids? If you haven’t, perhaps you could all gather at this summer’s NACC and draft one just so those of us still emerging can get to work. And keep in mind that in many ways it has nothing to do with age—I know 30-somethings who can barely tie their shoes.