If Not Now, Then When?
This week I read a great article regarding the ministry of YES! (Young Enough to Serve). This article tells the story of Frances, a 75-year old woman who is singing in a Mobile Home Choir, doing senior outreach work for her church and has just begun work on a Master’s degree in psychology and counseling. Her story reminds me of something I heard the late Dr. Gene Cohen (a leader in the field of aging) say in a presentation. He said as we get older we develop more of an attitude that says: “If not now, then when?” Stereotypes say that older adults are cautious, but many 50+ age adults are plunging into new adventures – things they have never done before. Things like going on an overseas mission trip, mentoring a disadvantaged teenager or going back to college! Anything is possible!
How have you seen older adults display an attitude of “If not now, then when?”
I couldn’t agree more! The adventure of knowing Christ and serving him never grows old. God has something new to experience if we would just take our eyes off of ourselves and put them on Him.
One of the big questions I hear my friends asking as they near retirement is, “What’s next?” Some of them, even those who are faithful members of their churches, genuinely don’t know.
As Christians, we have the privilege of pointing the way to a life that is full of meaning and life-long growth, in service of the King whose kingdom is far more exciting than any leisure lifestyle brochure can envision. I get excited when I hear about churches that are encouraging older adults to become engaged in ministry and mission opportunities.
Judy Lang
Vancouver, B.C.