I hope CS Lewis will forgive me for using the title of his amazing autobiography for this post, but it was the first thing that came to mind when I thought about this topic yesterday.
It started like every other Sunday morning, with the alarm going off way too early for my liking. It's after the church service that the surprises started. A friend told me that his wife would be playing in a band concert that afternoon. He also mentioned that they would be sharing the stage with a choir of neurodivergent young people. That really interested me as a musician. Up until then, Rose had always played down the group as a bunch of non-professionals that weren't very good, discouraged me from attending.
What I discovered was that the band was composed of older musicians who, after retirement, were looking for a place to use their gifts. They numbered about fifty and were music teachers and ordinary seniors who had learned an instrument and loved playing. The only youngsters in the group were the percussionists.
The band was good! Easy to listen to! The faces of the audience reflected their joy. Members of the choir, at various levels of disability, were united by an all-inclusive, pervasive joy.
That is what music does to a community. The song that nearly brought me to tears is the theme from "The Greatest Showman": This Is Me. They sang with gusto, pride, and especially joy.
Singing in a choir has always been one of my favorite things. It becomes a close-knit community of individuals who love making music together and then bringing joy to their audience through their performance. As I sat there, I regretted having sold my trumpet or I would have joined the band. Then I wondered if the choir or their music school accepted volunteers—and wondered how I could help.
And then it struck me. What are you thinking? You are almost 87 and just barely have enough energy to accomplish the commitments God has called you to. How could you add any more?
How about you? What are the abilities with which God has gifted you? What do you enjoy doing? So many organizations are looking for volunteers who are willing to serve the Lord and others, not the least of which is the church. Our church thrives because of the enormous staff of volunteers who work behind the scenes setting up chairs (and taking them down) in our multi-purpose rooms, helping out in Sunday school and nursery, serving on the missions committee (my favorite), and the list goes on and on.
I had friends in Michigan who, throughout their retirement years, volunteered at the local hospital wherever they needed help. (She eventually became manager of the gift shop.) And just recently, I had an appointment at the oncology center and was amazed at how many volunteers were serving joyfully and bringing joy to others.
Fred was a friend and builder who gave his skills to missions all over the world, before and after retirement. He formed a small group of plumbers, painters, and other tradesmen that traveled the world together. L'Abri, the study centers founded by Francis Schaeffer, was one of their favorites. It's there that we met Fred and his wife, Glenda, becoming close friends as we served together in practical ways. You don't need to be a genius to change a light bulb, but for many of L'Abri's intellectual staff workers, it was close to a miracle!
My responsibility was cooking for the staff and students. What a reward it was when a student, moaning with pleasure between each bite, explained that he hadn't had a home-cooked meal in a very long time. Or when the students decided, when I left the room, to lick their dessert plates clean by the time I returned. I guess they liked French pineapple mousse!
So…if you're really tired of a sedentary life, talk to Jesus about it. He knows better than you where you will fit. It doesn't need to be long term. As your days, so shall your strength be. And above all, you might find that you're surprised by joy, the profound joy that comes from serving Jesus.
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
Is. 46:4
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