Today is my 56th birthday. The cool thing about this birthday is that this is the year that my age matches the last two digits of my birth year! I was born 56 years ago in 1956. This occurrence is called the Beddian Birthday, named after Bobby Beddia, a New York City firefighter who inspired some mathematicians to develop a theorem about this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Perhaps for that reason my kids asked me lots of questions at my pre-birthday dinner last night about what I am going to do on this “special” year. They fired off a litany of ideas like reading 56 books or paddling 560 miles in a canoe or doing this or that 56 times — something of a Beddian Bucket List.
Others this past week have asked me similar questions about my plans for my Beddian year of life. I have replied tongue-in-cheek that I am going to climb Mt. Everest without oxygen, swim across the Pacific because it’s much wider than the Atlantic, and then end the year by walking across Antarctica with only a pocket-full of granola bars. I have to confess that all of the questions about what I am going to do throughout this year that matches my birth year started me thinking about what I am going to do on this year that matches my birth year! After all, this is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence and I really should make the most of the year, or at least do something new or memorable.
After much thought and consideration, I have decided to abandon the idea of a Beddian To-Do Bucket List. I am already privileged to have lots of really great adventures on any given year, so another list of places to go or adventures to have does not really appeal to me. Instead, I recently read something that convinced me to develop a different kind of list — a To-Be list instead of another To-Do list. A To-Be list is about the things I need to do in order to become more of the person that God desires for me to be. For example…
• In order for me to be a better husband I need to do specific things to continue to show my bride of thirty-plus years that I love her.
• In order for me to relate better to my grown children, I need to find intentional ways to spend time with them doing something they enjoy.
• In order to be a healthier person, I need to exercise and eat right.
• And, in order to develop deeper intimacy with God, I need to spend time daily in prayer and reading the scripture.
Each of the above, and the other things on my list, can only be done by me. Nobody can exercise to lose weight on my behalf or spend time with God in order to draw me closer to Him. Only I can do these things. So, my to-do list will have a new twist this year. I am going to work hard to make sure that the things I do are things that will help me to be a better husband, father, friend, servant, and follower of Christ. As much as I look forward to the year ahead, I am especially excited about my new Beddian To-Be Bucket List.
Go Beyond 
Happy Birthday, Pastor O!
You are an inspiration to us all. You challenge me in many ways when I open your blog each day! I am truly blessed to know you. I hope you have a wonderful day!
Lisa
By: Lisa Quiring on April 7, 2012
at 11:22 AM
Thanks so much, Lisa.
By: Omar C. Garcia on April 7, 2012
at 11:33 AM
Happy Birthday, Omar!
By: Kathleen Farris on April 7, 2012
at 12:32 PM
Thanks, Kathleen.
By: Omar C. Garcia on April 7, 2012
at 12:56 PM
I hope You have a great Birthday! I appreciate and admire all that you do. You make such a difference and that is something we should all aspire to do.
I know you’ll do great things with your Beddian Year!
By: kkheston on April 7, 2012
at 3:29 PM
Thanks, Kim. Looking forward to a great year.
By: Omar C. Garcia on April 7, 2012
at 3:41 PM
happy birthday daddy 🙂 I love you
By: Gina Garcia on April 8, 2012
at 12:22 AM
Thanks. I love you and miss you, Gina.
By: Omar C. Garcia on April 8, 2012
at 12:45 AM
Happy birthday, Omar! As always, an interesting and challenging post! I researched the Beddia theorem and plugged it into a spreadsheet so that I could calculate the Beddian Birthday for any given birth year. Although mine won’t be until 2048, I will still strive to incorporate your “To-Be” list into my daily life so that I can become the kind of person that God wants me to be. Thanks for all you do, Omar! Blessings!
By: Jason Hall on April 8, 2012
at 8:46 AM
Thanks so much, Jason. Blessings to you.
By: Omar C. Garcia on April 8, 2012
at 9:52 AM
Happy Birthday and Easter!
By: Wayne Baker on April 8, 2012
at 9:20 PM
Thank you, Wayne.
By: Omar C. Garcia on April 8, 2012
at 9:35 PM
Happy birthday Omar of the World. We are all really glad you were born:) our family loves you.
By: Christy on April 9, 2012
at 5:16 PM
Thank you, Christy of the Nile. Love the Kennedy family, too!
By: Omar C. Garcia on April 9, 2012
at 6:14 PM
Hello I am also having a Beddian Birthday. I was born on a Monday 56 years ago in the year 1956. What are the odds of that happening? I think I will go and buy a lottery ticket just for fun!!
By: Corinne KAchuk on April 16, 2012
at 11:21 AM
Happy Beddian Birthday, Corinne! Best wishes for a great year!
By: Omar C. Garcia on April 16, 2012
at 1:09 PM
I am having my Beddian Birthday TODAY. Thank you for the inspiration for a ‘TO BE’ list. You may have discovered the key to dealing with our complicated world on a daily basis, and to be uniquely reminded daily… that the ‘main thing’ is to keep the ‘main thing’ the ‘main thing’
By: Kris on August 8, 2012
at 8:41 AM
Happy Beddian Birthday, Chris. May this be your best and most adventurous year ever!
By: Omar C. Garcia on August 8, 2012
at 9:01 AM
Thank you and may God continue to bless you and us through your insights.
By: Kris on August 8, 2012
at 9:51 AM