Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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Wow – I’m 26.                  

How crazy is that?
 

I don’t feel 26.

 
And according to everyone at my work (who thought I was
20) I don’t look 26 either.
 
I definitely don’t feel mature enough to be 26.
 
 
 Shouldn’t I have a career?

Be married?

Have a
kid?

At least not be living with my parents. (Which I’m doing for the
1st half of this year)
 
 
Or at least one of
those things?
 
 
On the other hand………
 
 I did move away for college
.
I’ve Traveled to 30 countries.
 
Lived in Colorado on my own for a year.
 

And I do know what I’m gifted, passionate about and called to do.

 
 
 
That’s what makes this season so unique.
It’s not a step back per se’ but it’s definitely different.
 
 

I have grown up, changed and matured as a man YET

I lack those milestones often associated with maturity.
 
 

These thoughts ran through my head on my 26th birthday and as I processed back to a

thought that I had sometime last year.
 
 

If
maturity or even more importantly for me, Manhood, is based on these external
benchmarks (No matter how
important society says they are)

I will

Always
feel lacking or insufficient.

 

 

 

But if it continues
to be deeply
rooted in my identity as a Son of God and a continual

Pursuit of an intimate relationship with Him
–

Then
Everything changes.
 
 

If my identity and manhood
is rooted in this continual process

 of relationship
with the One that calls me Beloved
– then when I reach those
benchmarks of:

Marriage. Home Ownership. Fatherhood. (Or whatever else they could be)
 
 

I won’t be
looking to those milestones to root any of my identity or manhood

 
 
Because my roots will be in something much Deeper –

Relationship
with my Beloved.

 
 
This isn’t easy
because:
 

It’s not concrete.

It involves patience
and waiting.

There is no list
to check off.
 
 
 
 
But
I am starting to believe that it’s a key to life.

And
I am praying for the grace to live it out.