40 reasons turning 40 is a sweet deal

Technically it's middle-age, and that term comes with baggage. But I consider turning 40 to be the sweetspot of life. So, in no particular order, here are 40 reasons I'm celebrating my 40th this week (and a hint on what I'm celebrating with).

1. I don't have to buy the cheapest beer or bottle of booze in the aisle anymore.
2. I can still eat Kraft Dinner (mac and cheese for you non-Canadians), but it's now a choice, not a necessity.
3. My kids are getting old enough to do things around the house and yard I hate doing.
4. My kids are still young enough that "Because I said is so" is a perfectly acceptable answer (most of the time).
5. On the continuum of starting and ending life wearing diapers, I'm the farthest from either end that I'll ever be.
6. It's OK if I don't have my ID when I go out for drinks.
7. If I do get asked for ID, it's a story to share with friends for months.
8. I'm still way to young to even consider the senior's discount.
9. I'm old enough to remember the good 'ol days.
10. I'm young enough to not refer to the past as the good 'ol days.
11. I don't have to worry about memory problems yet.
12. I know what a rotary phone is so I appreciate my iPhone way more.
13. I appreciate my laptop isn't the size of a suitcase.
14. I don't have to worry about memory problems yet.
15. I've seen and experienced enough pain in life to know I've got it good.
16. I've seen and experienced enough joy and happiness in life to know I'm blessed.
17. I'm young enough it's still OK if neighbourhood kids walk on my lawn.
18. I'm old enough that if I do tell kids to get off my lawn, they don't think it's too weird.
19. Grey is the new black (or brown, or red, or blonde) when it comes to hair.
20. I know "rad" is still the best word to describe something that's cool.
21. I have skillz to use a record player, an 8-track player, cassette player, CD player, iPod and Songza.
22. I remember when "crossover" vehicles where called station wagons, and we got to ride/play in the back of a wood-panelled one.
23. I have experienced an arcade, Atari, Intellivision, Coleco, many iterations of Playstation, Wii and online games.
24. I've been around long enough to not over-react when Netflix takes more than eight seconds to load a movie because I appreciate I don't have to drive to a store to rent a movie.
25. I'm thankful I no longer have to "be kind and rewind" after watching a movie.
26. My mini-van full of kids and a beautiful wife beats a convertible roadster mid-life crisis vehicle—hands down.
27. I remember the feeling of the wind going through my hair while riding my bike, but I realize the move to helmets is pretty darn smart.
28. I still have lots of hair for the wind to blow through if it weren't under a bike helmet.
29. It's still my choice if the kids beat me playing any sport.
30. If I reflect on what I've done in my life, taking a peak at the kids sleeping is the only answer I need to bring a smile to my face.
31. I can get down on the floor to play with the kids and still get up without throwing something out of alignment, spraining, straining or cracking something, or making a loud grunting-groaning noise.
32. Over the years, I've amassed a collection of tools large enough that I no longer have to run to the hardware store for every project. Hmm, now that I write that, I need to think of more excuses reasons to get more tools.
33. I get to go to cartoon movies without creeping out parents—as long as I go with my kids.
34. I appreciate how much better a 50" plasma HDTV is than a 12" black-and-white TV with rabbit ears and a dial to change the channel.
35. Moving back to my mom's every summer to save money for university is a distant memory. Score one for independence!
36. I am in the top 0.21% of the world's richest people according to the Global Rich List. Wow! That's eye-opening.
37. I've been driving my own car for longer than I wasn't able to drive (legally). Score another one for independence!
38. I get to pick where we go for summer vacations and road trips. Walley World in 2014! Holiday ro-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oad. Holiday ro-o-o-o-o-o-oad.
39. I still have the stamina to tie-one-on for a big celebration—like, say a 40th birthday party—and be able to get up early when one of my little human alarm clocks wakes the whole household.
40. After 40 years of messing up, Jesus still loves and forgives me.

So there it is. Like fine wine, a single malt scotch, and good cheese, I'm getting better with age. What are some things you appreciate about your sweetspot of life?

Why marketers need to write liturgical music

It's been two years since we've seen changes to the Roman Catholic Mass, and, even though the new responses are now second nature to most, the liturgical music misses the mark.

To be clear, I'm not talking hymns, I'm referring to things like the Gloria, the Sanctus, etc. that had to change when the language of the prayers changed.

Before I go any further, I must be perfectly blunt. I am not a musician. I do appreciate good music (which is subjective, so don't get in a huff about my opinion). My musical abilities are more than non-existant, but less than abundant. I enjoy "making a joyful noise to the Lord," and let's just leave it at that.

I don't think the music we have in church is appropriate for its purpose. I think evidence of this is the fact that two years later, most people in the congregation, and the occasional choir member, can't remember the tune or timing. I see this at our home parish and at parishes we visit when traveling.

It may indeed be great music, which is testament to the fact that there are great composers out there. But I think they totally miss who is supposed to be singing the music. People like me. Average Joes and Janes. It's not meant to be a musical performance. It's meant to get everyone there singing and praising God.

Which is why I think the Church should employ a team of marketers and jingle writers to compose liturgical music. How many times have you had a jingle stuck in your head all day, and you can't stop humming it? Lots! Sure, they may not be the most musically complex or cultured pieces ever written. But they are written to make sure the average person can understand it, hum or sing along with it, and remember it so you can go buy their product or service.

How great would it be if everyone had the Gloria stuck in their head all day?

Instead, we're stuck mumbling through music because it's too complex for the average person. In an attempt to make music more, well, musical, more sophisticated, and overall more interesting, we have instead made music something the congregation sits back and listens to because we can't keep up with the level of performance.

Let's make church music accessible for everyone to sing and give the Lord the praise He is due. Bring on the marketers.