You know you may be speaking at a seniors’ fellowship meeting when:
- They ask if you need to go to the washroom before you start.
- You start your talk with a reference to your recent colonoscopy.
- In a discussion as to what we will be doing just before we go back to heaven, the two things mentioned are: a) preaching; and b) having had a great meal.
- In the sharing time there are many references to those who are in hospital and those who have passed on.
- The lunch is low carb, with one-third of the usual amount of rice, and home-brewed chrysanthemum tea with no sugar.
On Wednesday morning I had the privilege of addressing a seniors’ fellowship gathering. I suspect many were older than me. I shared that to live fully in this chapter of life, we need to make peace with our past with the help of the Lord, we need to be good stewards of the life we still have, and we need to anticipate the next chapter of life. Yes, I talked about the “d” word, death. I compared it to Abraham being invited to someplace he had never been before. We too are being invited to the other side, somewhere we have never been before, but like Abraham we trust the Lord and go.
After the talk I chatted with a widower whose wife had died suddenly, about a year ago. I agreed that nothing prepares us for a loss like this. His wounds were still raw. All I could do was “sit” with him as someone who had also experienced widowhood. At least I could do that.
A sister came up to me. She was 90 and walked with the help of a walker. She told me that my talk had encouraged her and said she hoped I would go on to encourage many more seniors. I wondered if that is indeed my present assignment.
Those who know me will know of my love and burden for the young. In fact, last week I spent an evening with youth workers from various churches. It hit me that I was 40 years older than most of them! I wondered if I would be relevant. They were kind and said that I had been. A lot of my work has been to build bridges between older and younger believers. I still feel this is important.
To grow older, however, is to come to terms with the fact that you can’t do all that you would like to do. You have to make choices. I do see that many more are now concerned for, and working with, the young. I am not sure that our seniors are that well served. Should I devote more of my bandwidth going forward to pray and think through how to help seniors live their best life as long as God gives us breath? Because of the great healthcare in Singapore, more of us will be living longer. Some of us will have serious health needs and the church must promise that we will always be there for them. Many of us, however, will be fairly healthy into our later years. What does it mean to take up our cross and follow Christ at this chapter of life?
I am well aware that as I reflect on these questions I am reflecting on my own journey. And any ministry with seniors is ministry with my peers. Lord, I am your servant. Guide me.