I climbed 3 meters up the massive wooden pole and froze in fear. The platform was still 10 meters higher. From the ground, a small crowd was yelling encouragement. “You can do it!” they shouted. “I know I can,” I replied. “I’m just not sure I want to.”
But I knew I had to because two of the encouragers were Al and Thelma, a couple of 75 year olds who had made the climb and rode the zip wire cable while strapped into their harnesses just moments before. They were adorable as they stepped off the twin platforms and sailed down the parallel wires together. Al confessed that he was too scared to feel the romance, but his example meant there was no way I could back down. So when my wife shouted encouragement to me from her pole, I told myself, “Don’t look down!” and started climbing.
I’m glad I overcame my fear of heights that day, but I’m even happier that I made friends with Al and Thelma—senior saints who haven’t lost their enthusiasm for life. They remind me of Caleb, who believed the Lord’s promise when others saw only giants in the land (Numbers 13:30-33). “Don’t be afraid of them!” he told the Israelites. “If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us safely into that land and give it to us” (Numbers 14:8).
Decades later—at the retirement age of 85—Caleb had not given up on his dream (Joshua 14:10-11). Perhaps he was hearing whispers that he should put away his sword, for he told Joshua that not only could he still fight, but he preferred the challenging “hill country” of the mighty Amalekites (Joshua 14:12).
Do you know any Calebs? Honor them. Learn from them. Ask if you can fight alongside them as they take the next hill.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Mark 7:1-37
More:
Read Titus 2:1-8 to learn how young Christians should relate to older saints.
Next:
What older Christians do you know who have retired to the sidelines? How might you encourage them to be active in their faith?
wmcdaidna on July 21, 2012 at 11:18 pm
I hope this is not misunderstood, because though in the area of speaking, teaching, giving advice and counsel, and expressing principles and experience, then I would agree. But when an elderly person who is getting forgetful, unteachable, and they hang on to leadership, accounts, administration, and then start to say they are obeying God only, and no human authority can tell them what to do. This can destroy hundreds of lives, and destroy good ministries. I think we should look at the example of James Dobson, who retired from active leadership, but continued his teaching and counselling ministry.
mike wittmer on July 23, 2012 at 9:56 am
You are exactly right about that, and something I considered as I was writing this. As we get older, we will need to surround ourselves with people we trust to tell us the truth. It’s not a virtue to continue to attempt what we can no longer do, and there will be a time when we need to retire. Let’s just not do it too soon.
winn collier on July 24, 2012 at 5:06 pm
I want to meet Al and Thelma.
wmcdaidna on July 24, 2012 at 10:29 pm
Your words, “As we get older, we will need to surround ourselves with people we trust to tell us the truth.” are probably the key to growing old gracefully.
Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.