signs that rob is old:: 6/02/09

this is the first in what I’m sure will be a long series of blogs called “signs that rob is old;” because i seem to be reminded that i’m no longer young on a regular basis. here are the first batch of examples:

recently i was sitting in a staff meeting at work, next to dave, the high school minister. we were doing some group sharing led by our executive minister. he turned our direction and said, “let’s hear from the young guys…well…at least one of you is a young guy…”
he wasn’t even joking.
OUCH!
this is the same guy who once said to me, “I’m used to mentoring youth guys- you’re the first one that I’ve worked with that’s…well…that’s so experienced. you have many, many years of experience…”

a few weeks ago i was leading a meeting of parents of 5th graders, who had students graduating into the middle school ministry. I wanted to help them feel secure by telling them how much youth ministry experience that I had- so I said, “I’ve been doing middle school ministry here at the church for eight years; and I did five years of full time high school ministry back in modesto.” I should have just eneded there, but a thought popped into my head, and then plopped right out of my mouth. I said, “so when you think about it, I’ve been in full time ministry longer than your student has been alive.” ad then it hit me. I couldn’t help but say it out loud. “when did I get OLD?!”

today I was at Walgreens buying decongestant. I took it to the register, and the lady scanned it, and the cash register screen automatically popped up a display that read, “IS THE CUSTOMER OVER 18?” she muttered out loud, “hmm, lets see…” she looked at me and actually laughed out loud and said, “uh YEP! by A LOT!”
ouch.
I said, “don’t you want to card me?”
“I don’t think I need to she said.”

so- its confirmed. I’m old.
youth is wasted on the young.

God is love.
-rev-rob