LOOKING FORWARD

I want to stay alive as long as I live. It is important that we who are Christians maintain our witness and experience to the end of our days. The Psalmist gives us a promise: "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age..." Ps. 92:14. Of course we understand that many in aging lose physical strength, mobility and mental acuity. Even so, if we are alert and able, there are still windows and doors of opportunity.

Years ago I read of Walter Jans who retired at age 67 and moved from Ohio to California where he joined Faith Community Church in Garden Grove. In one year's time he made almost 4,500 calls, plus 1,500 incompleted calls. In addition, he made calls on both new and old members of the church. Pretty active retirement!

I knew a lady in Kansas City who was in her eighties, but got more children to Sunday School than anyone else in her church. While she had no way of conveyance, she collected them on street corners for pick up by the church bus.

John Eliot was a pioneer missionary to the American Indians. He translated the Bible into the Algonquin Tongue; and also prepared a grammar and catechism and assisted in preparation of the famous Bay Psalm Book. On the day he died in 1690 he was found teaching the alphabet to an Indian child at his bedside. He was 86 years old.

"Why not rest from your long labors?" a friend demanded. "Because," answered Eliot, "I have asked God to make me useful in my sphere, and He has heard my prayer; for now that I can no longer preach, he leaves me strength to teach this poor child his alphabet."

Here is John Ciardi's poem on ....

CROWS

The old crow is getting slow.

The young crow is not.

Of what the young crow does not know,

The old crow knows a lot.

At knowing things, the old crow

Is still the young crow's master.

What does the slow old crow not know?

How to go faster.

The young crow flies above, below,

And rings around the slow old crow.

What does the fast young crow not know?

Where to go.

Maybe, just maybe, we old birds can find a place of service somewhere.