Photos by Rayvon Creates

To me, one of the most beautiful things about aging is that, for better or worse, we become more of who we are. I have watched women (and men) around me as we all have gotten older and it has been incredible to see them truly celebrate who they are with a richness and sense of joy and gratitude.

Living to become 40 years old is an incredible blessing. And I don’t know that I feel like it’s been 40 years. You can’t tell me that college wasn’t just yesterday – and yet I graduated from undergrad nearly 20 years ago. While there are many years behind me, I still feel like my best years are ahead. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow in love and marriage with Preacherman, watching the kids grow and achieve their dreams, impacting Jacksonville and beyond for the kingdom of God – the list is long!

As I’m approaching being “middle-aged” (or maybe I’m already there), I’m committed to running my race, at my pace, in my lane. I ran track for over 10 years, and one of the most common pieces of advice that I got from my coaches was, “Erin: Your race, your pace, your lane.” What they meant was that I didn’t need to spend time worrying about the people next to me. I needed to be focused on running the race that I had trained to run, at my pace, and I needed to stay in my lane. You see, what they knew, that I didn’t know at the time was that there’s a value in being focused on what you came to do. Also, you set yourself up to lose (or potentially be disqualified) when you become distracted and overly focused on others.

So at 40, I’m committed to running my race. I am growing in my understanding of who I am as a person with unique gifts and talents, called to make a difference in this world; and I am consistently seeking God for clarity on how those gifts and talents should be utilized, with the ultimate goal being that He is glorified.

I’m running at my pace. While there are others who may appear to be “ahead” of me based on the things they have or the life they are living (items, positions, titles, lifestyles, etc), it’s okay if it takes me a little longer to get there. Delays are not denials and He makes all things beautiful in His time.

I’m staying in my lane. If you have run track, you know that stepping out of your lane in a race can result in a disqualification. In the real world, stepping out of our lane may not result in disqualification, but it can create unnecessary tension and stress because you’re taking up someone else’s space. The truth of the matter is that my lane- the space of who I am and who I am called to be- is perfect for me.

While I’ve only been 40 for a few months, it has seemed less like “turning” and more like “becoming” – becoming more and more of who God has called me to be and being/becoming comfortable in that calling. Let’s see what God can do through me this year- and in the years to come!

Until next time- be encouraged! Peace and blessings!