Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/92

Contributor - Jelle De Jong

Title - Musings of a Senior: Serving the Lord in Our Retirement Years

Topic - Retirement

Someone once said: "Life begins at 40," and a cynical person answered: "Yes, and it begins to end at 50." Of course both statements are exaggerations; in fact, life after 50 may be the best time of your life!

Many seniors when they approach the age of 70 experience the limitations that come when you grow older. However, if you are in reasonably good health you can still serve the Lord. I am not ashamed to let you know that I have passed the "70" mark by a few years.

Growing older can be a happy experience if you put things in their Christian perspective and pursue some meaningful goals. Since growing older I have learned that some things become less important while other things take on a new significance. Material things lose their appeal while the spiritual things become more and more important. Thus, of each new day we say with King David: "This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24) Indeed, we start our day by praising God and thanking Him for another morning, realizing how great He is and how greatly He has blessed us. How about you, my friend? Do you count your blessings? Can you still walk and hear, and see the beauty of creation? Are you grateful that you need not worry where your next meal comes from? God is so good to us. Our days can be happy when we live in His presence!

Growing older can also be an unhappy experience. For some people the last years of their life are like walking a treadmill. One day is like the next with the same routine of getting up, getting dressed, having breakfast,... and little to look forward to in terms of spending the time meaningfully. However, it need not be that way!

I would like to share with you my own experience in retirement. Retirement for me did not come voluntarily but was the result of an "accident." I use that word advisedly because I believe that "not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven." Nothing happens without His knowledge!

The accident happened one morning when, walking through a field on our farm, I was hit by a stray bullet coming from the rifle of a careless hunter. The bullet went through my body, narrowly missing heart and lungs. Instantly I collapsed and was completely paralysed from the waist down. The first two weeks after the incident I was very, very sick. Our pastor, and good friend, when he visited me asked if I had peace with my lot and with God. I replied, "Yes." I had surrendered all to Him. Then he asked, "How would you feel if the man who injured you were to walk in here at this moment, would you be able to forgive him?" In my state of complete helplessness, I could not immediately answer that question. Then my pastor said: "Jelle, when God closes a door He usually opens a window - He creates a new possibility." At that moment I had no idea what that might mean, but some time later it became clear to me.

After six weeks and two operations feeling returned to my legs and I was able to move although with great difficulty. One of the happiest days of my life was the day when I was allowed to go home to my wife and children. With their help and the support of two canes, I made it! However, improvement was very slow. I remained weak and even with the aid of canes I often fell and was unable to get up. We had a poultry farm at the time but attempts to perform even the simplest tasks here proved too much for me.

We then decided to give up farming and move to a smaller home that we would build. I was 57 when we semi retired. Meanwhile my strength had returned to a point where I could once more be involved in the work of the church. I had often served as an elder in the Maranatha Reformed Church of Wainfleet, Ontario. However, now that I had more or less officially retired, the consistory approached me and asked that I take over some of the responsibilities of our pastor, especially the visiting of the elderly. My position as lay assistant to the pastor was made official in February of 1975. 1 have always considered that a great privilege and remember with great fondness a time of busy involvement despite some painful after effects caused by the accident. Paul's words received new meaning: "when I am weak then I am strong" (I Corinthians 12:10). 1 was also reminded of the fulfilment of those words spoken at my sickbed: "When God closes a door He usually opens a window!"

The ministry in which my wife Tina and I became involved took us to the homes of the elderly and the sick. Always we would read the Scriptures and pray with them. Because of my own experience of having been close to death I was able to minister more effectively, I felt, to those who were approaching the end of their life. In 1977 1 began to receive requests to conduct a service of worship, first in my native tongue but later also in English. I have supplied the pulpit in many Reformed churches. I have also conducted services in 4 hospitals and nursing homes. Several times I had the privilege of proclaiming God's Word in Shalom Manor. a Christian Home for the Aged in Grimsby, Ontario. Tina and I still visit there often. Tina volunteers by helping those who need assistance with their hair. I have always had a special love for the preparation of sermons and was given a series of excellent books by the Maranatha Reformed Church that have helped me in that task.

Spiritually we were experiencing great times. I remember an evangelistic crusade conducted by Barry Moore where I served as a counsellor for the first time of my life and was privileged to lead a young person to Jesus Christ. Our church in Wainfleet participated several times in events directed by Campus Crusade for Christ. These events would always include a time of witnessing using a little booklet called The Four Spiritual Laws. The same organization later conducted an evangelistic campaign called "I Found It."

By this time God had healed me completely, and I was able to visit homes in the community on a door-to-door basis. After conquering initial fears it was wonderful to talk to people about the Lord Jesus Christ, and God's plan for their life. We were always well received on these visits and were often invited into the homes. When, a few years later, we made a similar attempt in Stoney Creek where we had moved, the reception was not as friendly. I have a feeling that we were looked upon as Jehovah Witnesses.

When we left Maranatha Reformed Church and moved to Stoney Creek and later Grimsby, Ontario, my formal involvement with ministry came to an end. We had also become older and inevitably had become more limited in what we could do. Graciously accepting that fact was very important. This did not mean that we could not serve God but our service took on other forms. We could care for one another and spend more time in prayer. Intercessory prayer is urgently needed. Seniors are perhaps in the best position to spend time in prayer for a world that is lost in immorality and sin.

We must pray for a great revival in our nation. It is needed more than ever before. We must also pray the Lord "to send out labourers into the harvest." (Matthew 9:37) Do you believe that God answers prayer or can perform miracles? I do! In Ezekiel 22:30,31, which describes a time of national decay and low morality, the prophet, speaking for God, is heard to say: "And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the tire of my wrath." God did not look for a multitude to breach the gap but for a man. God had shown His patience and love before when Abraham pleaded for Sodom. If only ten were found He promised to spare the city. Indeed, the fields are white for the harvest. In the time that is left let us pray for the unsaved in the world.

Let me end with a benediction for those who like us have grown older or old, but also for our younger companions on the journey through life:

Blessed be the day when you came to know Jesus as your Redeemer and Lord; Blessed are those who stop and talk to us for a while; Blessed are those who never say: "You told that same story twice today." Blessed are those who relish the memories of yesterday; Blessed are those who look the other way when I spill coffee on the table. Richly blessed, my senior companions, are all who trust in the blood and death of Jesus, in His resurrection and His coming again.

Please click the "Back" button of your browser to return to previous page.