Reflections on Thirty

Posted Friday 13. March, 2026

Category: Personal  ✷  ▼ Download (.md)   ✷  Substack Version

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That is why there is no weakening on our part, and instead, though this outer man of ours may be falling into decay, the inner man is renewed day by day -- 2 Corinthians 4:16

In a month's time, I'll be thirty years old. If I am blessed to live into old age, I will have the unusual distinction of being born before the turn of the millennium -- a cultural milestone that by then may be largely forgotten, with most people having been born after it.

Emma Morano just made it to the 19th century, being born on November 29, 1899 -- she wouldn't even have any memories from the century, autobiographical memory usually manifesting around age 2, and would have no other significant connection to the period. Still, she existed within the arbitrary span of 100 years which came to have enormous significance to humanity -- The Napoleonic Wars, the American Civil War, the abolition of slavery in the British Empire, the invention of the electric telegraph, and the invention of photography. Emma, who lived to be 117 years old, dying in 2017, was the last documented human being born in the 1800s, thus being connected to three major time periods; the 19th century, the 20th century, and the new millennium.

By the time I turn thirty, only one documented living person, Ethel Caterham, will have been born before 1910. Soon, the last people born in the 1920s, the 1930s, and the 1940s will creep up on us. I was born April 24, 1996 -- the oldest documented human ever at 122, Jeanne Calment, died in 1997. No matter how old I become, I will always have lived at the same time as someone born in 1875. I think that's pretty neat.

April 24, 1996 holds another significance -- It was on that day that Donald Cammell chose to end his own life. Cammell was an interesting figure, and a very talented artist. I recommend his debut film, Performance. Additionally, I share a birth date with Ashleigh Barty, an Australian tennis player and Olympian. I could not possibly care less about tennis, but I always send her a "Happy Birthday" on Instagram -- maybe she'll reply when we turn thirty!

I have no grandparents left, but both of my parents. I am very grateful.

Whatever the thirties bring, I pray that my loving creator, Yahuah, will continue to hold his merciful hand over me. I pray that I will see lots of life. I pray that I will have more rest than in my twenties.

MARANATHA

M. L. Mayaan-Baruch

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