“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands” Psalm 90:17
I heard Dr Dale Meyer give a message at Crown of Life in West Sun City, AZ several years ago following a Best Practices Ministry in Phoenix and it has amazingly stayed with me for years. At the time, I was in my early 60’s and was one of the younger worshippers in that congregation on that day. He began by asking us to imagine that we had just experienced a Twilight Zone miracle, and at sunrise on Sunday morning, this church was just gone, vanished…poof. Would anybody notice it missing? Would anybody ask about you?
I thought about that message for most of my drive back to Nebraska the next few days. IF I had been a 75-year old member of COL, sitting in the padded chair, what would I have thought about his questions. So, now I’m sitting here in Normal, brushing against this side of 70 and I’ve made it a practice to ask myself in the morning and again in the evening, “will anybody remember me?” Years ago, I read poem by Amy Grant that brushed on the topic of aging. I thought this might be a good day share it with you, as none of us are getting any younger.
“It occurred to me this morning as I washed this face of mine, how quickly come the changes with a little passing time. A wrinkle here, a hair turned gray a not so lilting step; I see me growing older, but i don't quite feel it yet. At times I nearly feel my age, at others I'm, sixteen; so full am I of all the thoughts and feelings in between. Who would have thought the road of life would twist and turn so much? The journey makes me strong and weak and tender to the touch. And so this day I face the choice, that I have faced each day; will I be open? Teachable? Unafraid of change? Yes. I will embrace this moment. Forgive my past mistakes. And remember that just showing up is sometimes all it takes. I'll seek the kind of beauty that time cannot erase; wisdom and experience resting on my face.”
The verse from Psalm 90 is such a good reminder. Ask the Lord to guide us and use us with the tools He has provided for us. Hopefully, if people do remember you, they will see His work in what you have done.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay