Have you noticed---?

Somewhere, sometime, in the not-too-distant past, I changed. I'm not sure exactly when it happened. It just seemed that one day I woke up and I knew more than I used to know. Been there?

Most of the mid-lifer's I've talked to about this identify with what I'm trying to put into words, although I've found that the "word" approach doesn't always capture the significance of this change. But one of the commonalities I've discovered is that we all relax a little in who we are and in who we're not. We don't have to prove ourselves anymore. We are more comfortable with who we are---at least in understanding who we are, even though we see areas where we desire to grow.

Sometimes the educator or psychology types have a quick, pigeon-holing name for this new freedom of awareness, but upon hearing those titles, I tend to have an immediate inner reaction that intuitively knows the pigeon hole is too small. Have you had that same sense? It's like, yes, you've captured a part of what I'm feeling, but there is so much more in me that if I could let it flow out it would quickly flood right over that small title and become so much more.

As I read more and more about this Boomer generation the common theme of volunteerism often is mentioned. John Martin, in his Richmond Times-Dispatch series called Viva The Vital!, says, "That's right, those self-absorbed "Me Generation" baby boomers from the 1970s are now the most important asset to volunteer organizations across America-and will be for decades to come."

At the same time, the "Reveal" study recently revealed by Willow Creek says that the least engaged people in their churches are those with more spiritual maturity. They don't identify them as such, but many of them are "us"- the boomers.

If you're still with me, I do have a point in here. Let's see if I can get to it. When we were younger we tended to get engaged in everything the church offered. We were discovering who we were and what we liked to do. Once we move through the threshold I mentioned earlier we don't have to volunteer for things we know we can't do well or really don't like to do. And we're comfortable with that. Others might not appreciate our comfortableness. It can be interpreted as uncommitted, disinterested or growing cold. I don't think that is what it is.

I think that more often, it's that we're not hearing opportunities that we are passionate about. Most of us are not wired to do everything. We have our natural talents, the skills we've learned and the gifting God has given. When we hear something that lines up those areas, we can't help but get involved. It's our sweet spot. Everything else just passes over without connecting because we instinctively, after moving through this new threshold, know what we can do and can't do, and we're OK with that.

So what do you think? Does this describe some of your journey? Give some thought to your own experience on this issue. What kinds of things rev your engines? What are you really looking to invest yourself in at this promising stage of your life? God has been preparing you for it. You haven't surprised him with what you've become. He has a pretty good idea of how you're put together, who you really are, and what he has waiting. And whatever it is, wherever it might be, it will offer the fullest expression of all he's been building into you. Grab it!