Thanks Billy

My grand daughter came home with a new car last night. She bought it all on her own. She arranged the trade, the financing…everything. Her boyfriend was with her, but she did it all. She did a great job. She got a good deal on a very appropriate car for her needs. I’m mildly upset. She didn’t need me.

That’s a message I’m getting a lot of lately. In many ways, I’m really not needed, at least not like I used to be. That’s not a bad thing. My wife handled things beautifully when I was in the hospital and “out of it.” My daughter is moving on smartly with her life. My daughter-in-law has a great new job which she is handling very well. Her kids are happy and functioning well in school. I am at the end of a three year term on the Advisory Council for the Kairos Ministry at Angola. My “advisory” functions will end at the end of the year. The ministry will do just fine with me as a “simple volunteer.” My church is about to have a new pastor who is young enough to be my son…maybe my grandson, but then I guess he’s older than our youth pastor or school director.

Sometimes I feel like I need to find a sway back horse and a sunset to ride into. Jesus was 33 when his ministry was over. It seems all the most popular figures in the church are in their thirties. I get the senior coffee at MacDonalds and I get the senior rate at the movies. I don’t even have to ask. One look at me and they punch the senior ticket button.

Then I think about Billy Graham who was just a kid when he preached to stadiums about getting a new life. Now he’s writing about finishing well. I think about John rotting of old age in prison but writing some of the most beautiful passages of scripture as He continued to be “in the spirit” to the end.

I’m learning that a great finish is as important as a great start. We are called to do our best at every stage of the race. We need to know our roles as they change. We need to smile at the past, but grin toward the future. These young ones are blessed with energy and enthusiasm but they still can use the advice of experience and the wisdom that comes with long walks with Him.

Thanks for the reminder Billy. And Jessica…I would have gotten the tan seats not the black. Black is for old people. Tan is young. I would think you would know that. 🙂

Be blessed.

Nick

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