That's me - the fanboy "holding up" John Schlitt, lead singer of the band Petra at their 50 year anniversary concert in Nashville, TN - November 2022. Thanks to Sharaya Photography for the amazing shot. Petra has been a band longer than I have been alive. I owe Bob Hartman - the main lyricist and lead guitarist - and others in the band a huge thank you for being a critical influence in my early years as a Christ-follower. And I'm glad I got to do that at the show. 50 years and they're still rocking!!
I turned 50 in 2023. And it felt great. Sure, I'm not as physically flexible and agile as I was in my twenties, but by God's grace I am healthy, and have so much to be grateful for. My birth year (1973) was quite eventful:
Bell-bottoms and disco music reigned supreme
America exited the Vietnam war
India opened its first tiger sanctuary program
Chile gets a new dictator in Pinochet
One of the longest solar eclipses ever occurred in June
The Yom Kippur war breaks out as Egypt and Syria invade Israel, only to be defeated in a few weeks
The Watergate scandal results in US President Nixon resigning and Gerald Ford taking over
The Soyuz and Sky Lab space programs are in full swing
Petra starts working on their debut album to be released in 1974
It was in that tumultuous world that my parents loved and cared for me in Bombay (Mumbai) India. And for that I am immensely grateful. Their love and sacrifice is inspirational and I have much to live up to.
However, every year around my birthday I am more importantly reminded of my spiritual birthday in June of 1989. That year was interesting as well:
George W. H. Bush (senior) is elected the US president
The Soviets withdraw from Afghanistan
Iran's ayatolah places a $3MM bounty on Salman Rushdie for writing the Satanic Verses novel
The World Wide Web is launched in its nascent stage
The Tiananmen Square student protests resulted in the Chinese government massacring hundreds, perhaps thousands, of their own citizens
Nintendo releases GameBoy in the USA and also celebrates 100 years
Apartheid ends in South Africa
Thousands die in Hindu-Muslim violence in Bhagalpur India
The Berlin Wall falls and Germany is reunited
The Simpsons premiers on FOX TV
The Cold War between USSR and USA ends (supposedly!)
NWA is the first rap group to go platinum with Straight Outta Compton
Petra releases Petra Praise - The Rock Cries Out
With all that going on, God was at work in the heart of a young man contemplating the meaning of life and the possibility of ending it. If God had not intervened when He did in the way that He did, I would not be alive today.
On turning 50, I realize that every year is a gift from God. My wife, my children, my family, and my friends - they are all part of the "second chance" He has given me. He is the One who gives me strength and courage to make it through the day. His breath fills my lungs to sing about the greatest Love of all. I've had a great run, but the best is yet to come. The mission has never been more urgent, and He will fulfill all His promises. The more I spend time with Him, the more I realize I need His Spirit. The more He fills me, the more I become like Him. May that never cease!! And we who with unveiled faces contemplate God's glory, are being transformed with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Holy Spirit - 2 Cor 3:18.
To quote Petra - there's a higher road to go, beyond belief!
Keep rocking!!
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