|
Pastor · Sunday Schedule · FBC
News
2002
From the Pastor
TURNING SIXTY
Be It Resolved. . .
I will not live with regret in the fact that I am getting older.
I will not fade into a life of insignificance.
I will always remember Moses who was in his eighties when he led the Israelites from slavery.
I affirm lifelong learning, the stimulation an idea can bring, the reward of reading, the pleasure of good conversation and the exhilaration of listening to a lecture given by someone who is smarter than myself - and there are a whole lot of such people.
I will never limit my friendships to people my age. When I am 90 I want friends who are in their 40's.
I will be sensitive to age prejudice and rail against it, but I will use the Golden Buckeye card.
At Sixty. . .
I am more convinced than ever of the need and importance of the church. Our faith needs community expression as well as the checks and balances, that openly living our faith with others provides.
More than ever I believe worship must express awe and wonder. It should inspire us, lead us into a world that s not our own, help us recover a sense of mystery and transcendence in our lives.
I value my friends, love my family, miss my dog, spend more time in prayer, yet enjoy more fully the earthiness of life - a good meal, a beautiful view, a movie well written, directed and acted.
Temptations still exist, some wounds never heal but God's grace and mercy becomes more real.
There is more pain but there are also more experiences of pure joy and appreciation.
At sixty when I look out on the world I am neither driven to despair or ready to say things are so awful this must be the end times. I leave that to God, and at the same time recognize that goodness is often more anonymous and less visible than corruption and evil, but it is that anonymous goodness that is a reflection of and aligned with what is eternal and in the end through Jesus Christ it will be that goodness which triumphs.
Finally. . .
In turning 60 I want to thank the congregation and all those who helped plan the surprise reception on Sunday, January
13, 2002. I thought by being on vacation and out of town on my birthday I had outwitted any attempt at surprise. Boy, was I wrong. It was a true surprise and a wonderful surprise. I thank you very much and also the wonderful way the congregation models the adventure of aging and the intergenerational relationships that mean so much.
Dr. David W. Andersen
            
|
