Reaching the summit

This picture reminded me of something that was in the forefront of my mind: My birthday. Today I turned 60; I made it to another decade. When I called my daughter to confirm the party she was preparing for my birthday/mother's day, my grandson said he was doing some research for a paper about Julius Caesar and wanted to talk to someone who knew him. Ha! Ha! Well, I look at birthdays differently than I used to; now, they are an accomplishment, a goal, something to attain to, like a climber would feel reaching the summit of a mountain. One of the blessings of being older is that there are now so many more people to care about, which is also where the Apostle Paul was; check out this passage from the book of Philemon.

Phm 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
Phm 1:2 to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
Phm 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Phm 1:4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
Phm 1:5 hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
Phm 1:6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
Phm 1:7 For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Phm 1:8 Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
Phm 1:9 yet for love's sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Phm 1:10 I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,
Phm 1:11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
Phm 1:12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

World English Bible

Paul was concerned for Onesimus, a runaway slave turned brother in Christ. That he would write to Philemon for him is completely normal because you take care of those you really care about. That a whole book of the Bible is written for one person shows the importance of each person who loves God and that means you and me. In a sense this book really is "over the top" because of the deep concern Paul had for Onesimus. That's the thing about love, it takes you higher and higher and from that vantage point you can see a lot of other people besides yourself.

PS. I wish to thank all those who sent me cards this year. I received more cards yesterday and today than I have in the past five years. Thank you all so much!!!!!!