2007 Soap Box Archives

Reflections On Turning Seventy-one

Today is Oct. 28, 2007 and at about 2 am EST this morning, I turned seventy-one years old. In some ways it doesn't seem possible. It seems that the years have just flickered past in an exciting wonderful, multicolored,
roller coaster ride, a fast moving epic played out on the highways and concert stages of the world.

But to view my life in that light would be selective thinking, looking at the bricks and ignoring the mortar that holds it together.

It takes highs and lows, good times and bad, ups, downs and sideways to make up a life and some of my fondest memories don't have to do with major victories or notable accomplishments but with friendship, family and love.

I've got so many sights stored up in the camera of my mind from riding across the frozen oceans of the Arctic on an Eskimo dog sled to standing in awe at the newly restored ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, from the peace and
beauty of twin Hawaiian rainbows to the heartrending destruction of Sarajevo, from the beehive streets of Beijing to the quiet tranquility of an early morning Colorado snowstorm.

I've gathered cattle in the Big Bend, fished the cold waters of Alaska and attended Easter sunrise services at he birthplace of Abraham, the Patriarch of the Jewish race.

Of course I've suffered disappointment and failure but disappointments are lessons and failure is temporary and if you'll allow it, each one can serve to teach you that it's not how many times you get knocked down that counts
but how many times you get up and that if you get up one more time than you get knocked down, you're a winner.

I've had broken bones but never a broken spirit, I've found out that a big problem is usually just a series of little problems that have to be dealt with individually and decisively.

One of the biggest lessons I've ever learned is that malice is poison to the soul and forgiveness is healing.

I've learned that no matter what an apostate world tries to make Almighty God out to be or not to be, that He is never changing, loving, forgiving and holds the Universe in the palm of His hand.

I've learned that a loving wife and child are blessings beyond compare and that true friendship should be treasured above gold and though my immediate family is small my extended family is huge and I truly love each and every one of them, all three generations.

I've rejoiced at births, cried at funerals. I¹ve held the hand of a good friend, the reins of a good horse and the innocence of a baby in my arms.

I have comforted, been comforted and stared into the face of danger with the hand of God covering me.

I've been down but never out, bent but never broken, slowed but never stopped.

Don't be intimidated by the years, they're as natural as the flow of a river, but regard instead the age of your attitude. It can be forever young.

It's such a blessing to wonder what's over the next hill and to be excited about finding out.

I thank God for 71 years.

Pray for our troops.

What do you think?

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

October 29, 2007