
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. – Psalm 71:17-18
Discovering many strong desires turn out not so desirable, finding when all is said and done more is said than done, a new pain here, a lack of energy there, and there’s a tendency to sit out, turn inward, lose interest.
Even Solomon, wisest man ever, said in his later years,
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.(Eccl 4:13).
But King David discovered a task and a cause that kept him going even through old age — showing God’s strength to the next generation.
Turning attention from our puny little goals to God’s plan provides an unending source of drive and energy!
As a young man I met an elderly couple (at the time I thought they were elderly but not so much now ) who inspired me. They were passing through to the mission field at age 60 — they had discovered the fountain of life, Jesus, and purposed to re-fire instead of retire.
Sound bite: Re-Fire instead of Re-Tire
Prayer: “Father, yours is a Lifetime calling — enjoying you, showing your strength and power. Thank you for that wonderful calling and grace to live it! Amen!”
— fritz@langgang.com
At a local scooter club I heard a safety saying, “Dress for the fall, not the ride”. I took it to advise being prepared for difficulties not just the enjoyment. Today my daily Bible reading surfaced a scripture with a similar message but in a larger context.