HoHum:
To the tune of Jesus Loves Me
Jesus loves me, this I know though my hair is white as snow, though my sight is growing dim still He bids me to trust in Him (Chorus: Yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so)
Though my steps are oh so slow with my hand in His I’ll go On through life, let come what may, He’ll be there to lead the way (Chorus)
Though I am no longer young, I have much which He’s begun, Let me serve Christ with a smile, go with others the extra mile (Chorus)
WBTU:
To retire implies, “to take out of use.” What a sad description. Our high tech society makes many older adults feel obsolete. Os Guinness fights against this. In his book called the Call, he reminds everyone that we never retire from our calling (a biblical idea). No longer on the job, yet hearing the Caller’s voice, many retired persons occupy the land between. Land between what- living here and now, and of a place beyond our wildest imaginations- described in the Book of Revelation as a place of glad reunions, of endless time, of security, where there is no terror, pain, disease, sin or death. In every culture, it is the retirees and the elderly who remain most aware of “the land between.” One British show called it waiting for God- so passive.
Despite ageism in Western society, older adults to a large part determine their happiness in “the land between.” On the one hand, they can allow society to chart their future and to set their self esteem and then blame the younger generation for their fate. This feeds on passivity and leads to bitterness. On the other hand, senior adults need to recognize that to some degree their future depends upon their own efforts. They shape their personal attitudes and destiny.
To finish life well we must select our destination with care, choose our companions wisely, chart our course, and follow trusted points on the compass. For ages, trekkers have used the stars for guidance. On a clear night, a navigator scans the skies for the North Star and uses it as a guiding beacon toward his destination. Retired persons, similarly, are trekkers and mapmakers in their own right. Are there reliable signposts leading from the land of retirement to one’s final destination?
Thesis: Let us consider some signs- characteristics, qualities, or practices- along the journey that may help us as we navigate “the land between”
For instances:
Living with hopeful expectancy
The pull of the past exerts a powerful force on all the anticipated actions of retired persons. C.W. Brister talked about a friend’s recounting the history of his family’s generations from early American beginnings to their tombstone markers in cemeteries in the deep South. His ancestors had struggled with family crises, financial concerns, attacks from Indian tribes, fears about health, talks of their fathers’ exploits, to questions about the future. We can certainly learn from our forebears’ achievements and contributions, as well as their shortcomings and limitations, but do we have to lock ourselves into the past and now just “wait for God”?
We have all been around people who believe they are the hopeless case- someone who has given in to fate or despair. Some older adults plunge into depression because of their losses. Many just give into the despair and give up all hope. Fortunately, we can help people look at life with a wide angle lens and see a larger, longer picture. We can help people to see how the centuries speak to their lonely hours. Biblical history, for example, relates how the Jews, who were people of faith and hope, despite tribulation, clung to the expectation that the Messiah would come and the world would be better. Come oh Come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel; in addition the Jews were not passive waiting for the Messiah- did many things by faith from the time of the Exile until the coming of the Messiah
Psychiatrist Karl Menninger, talked about hope in his book Love Against Hate, “hope is the dim awareness of unconscious wishes which, like dreams, tend to come true.” Dr. Menninger rightly anchored his views of hope in the Scriptures, often citing the Apostle Paul’s “these things remain” in 1 Corinthians 13. “Hope is humble, it is modest, it is selfless. Unconcerned with the ambiguity of past experiences, hope implies process; it is an adventure, a going forward, a confident search.” “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14, NIV.
Grow as lifelong learners
Dangerous to assume that wisdom comes to those whose hair turns silver. A biblical knowledge of personhood points out that an understanding mind develops out of a lifelong struggle for knowledge. Wisdom books especially emphasizes this fact as older friends frustrated Job and Elihu with simple answers. I already know all that there is to know. Oh really
Biblical examples challenge all to move beyond superficiality to become lifelong learners. Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Simeon, Anna, and others represent the best in lifelong learning. Lessons from these examples present a demanding challenge for growth to the older generation.
Foolishness found in the elderly stresses the need to work at becoming a lifelong learner. In the Old Testament, an old prophet tricks a young one from Judah and costs the young prophet his life (1 Kings 13). The Jewish elders in the Gospels and Acts reject the message of Jesus Christ. Nicodemus seems perplexed when asked to change in his old age (John 3). True wisdom comes from God and is grasped by learning the lessons of life through disciple and obedience. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7, NIV. “For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,” Proverbs 6:23, NIV.
We must put aside the idea that people grow too old to learn. Instead, they need to dedicate themselves to personal discipline through which they may acquire the wisdom of the ages.
Practice gratitude
Hans Selye was one of the world’s foremost researchers on the subject of stress. His early medical studies, published as The Stress of Life in 1956, expressed some findings on the importance of gratitude in stress management. 7 benefits of gratitude- 1) Gratitude opens the door to more relationships 2) Gratitude improves physical health 3) Gratitude improves psychological health 4) Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression 5) Grateful people sleep better 6) Gratitude improves self esteem 7) Gratitude increase mental strength
“give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV. Count your blessings, name them one by one- thankful for many things over years
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” Philippians 4:8, NIV.
Cultivate generosity
Many seniors have accumulated a lot of “stuff” through the years. One of the best solutions for the overabundance of possessions is to eliminate things that are no longer useful or of value at this stage of life. Give some (even cherished) things away to save our heirs the trouble.
Parable of the rich fool in Luke 12. Rich man tore down his barns and built larger ones to store his harvest. “And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God.”” Luke 12:19-21, NIV. Edward Thornton says of this: A decision to seek security in material things automatically withers the soul. Fear dictates a decision to make yourself rich. In yielding to fear, you lose the opportunity to make your true self rich- to discover the joy of being centered in your true self, or being at one with God.
A generous heart tunes itself, ideally, to the very character of God, demonstrated in the humility of Christ’s incarnation- “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:3-11, NIV.
Has the time come in our lives for conscious distribution rather than of accumulation? Gaining freedom from getting, from desiring to acquire more things, can free us for acts of generosity toward those nearest us, toward friends and acquaintances, extended to strangers, even our enemies. I’m on a budget! Generosity includes more than money. It expresses its giving spirit in acts of friendliness, kindness, compassion, and willingness to listen to and pray for others.
So what?
Only way to make the best of the “land between” is to make sure of eternal destination. Simeon- ““Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.” Luke 2:29. Only way to have assurance and peace is by accepting Jesus- “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans 5:1
