St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

Fifty but not freewheeling

I’ll be fifty in 2006, and some of my non-clergy friends are already talking about early retirement. More of them are talking about the feeling of relief as children depart to lead their own lives, and the pressures of constant care of the very young become a thing of the past.

Not that it’s like that for me, as the effect of two children with special needs continues to mean disturbed nights and ever-present awareness of what they might be up to and whether they need supervising. I would be lying if I find this an easy aspect of life, and it causes me to ask new questions about the future.

However, the bible gives me a lot of comfort on this topic. It has no promise of an easy wind-down to retirement - not for anyone. Instead Abraham is called to step out into a new adventure when he’s 75 years old, and St Paul spends his whole life embarking on one missionary endeavour after another.

Fancy doing new things for God all your life! You might think that would be dreadful, but Abraham and St Paul both rejoiced in it. In fact, St Paul wrote that if anyone is in Christ, s/he is a NEW creation. In what way does your newness show?

Over the last two years I have been trying to learn how to become an effective politician (on the General Synod of the Church), and as many of you will have realized, I have been trying to develop the gift God seems to have given me of writing Christian lyrics and songs.

This year, as a “New Year challenge”, I’d like to ask you to do something. It’s not to spend more time in prayer and bible reading, although of course I’ll encourage you if you set yourself this task. Instead, ask yourself if God wants you to grow in a new way - and what that new way might be? Let’s not be just the same as we are now, this time next year!

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. January 2006, Page 1.
Home Page. Index of articles: by subject, by date. In this issue: (January 2006) Fifty, Budget, Question. Other Vicar's letters.	Fifty but not freewheeling I’ll be fifty in 2006, and some of my non-clergy friends are already talking about early retirement. More of them are talking about the feeling of relief as children depart to lead their own lives, and the pressures of constant care of the very young become a thing of the past. Not that it’s like that for me, as the effect of two children with special needs continues to mean disturbed nights and ever-present awareness of what they might be up to and whether they need supervising. I would be lying if I find this an easy aspect of life, and it causes me to ask new questions about the future. However, the bible gives me a lot of comfort on this topic. It has no promise of an easy wind-down to retirement - not for anyone. Instead Abraham is called to step out into a new adventure when he’s 75 years old, and St Paul spends his whole life embarking on one missionary endeavour after another. Fancy doing new things for God all your life! You might think that would be dreadful, but Abraham and St Paul both rejoiced in it. In fact, St Paul wrote that if anyone is in Christ, s/he is a NEW creation. In what way does your newness show? Over the last two years I have been trying to learn how to become an effective politician (on the General Synod of the Church), and as many of you will have realized, I have been trying to develop the gift God seems to have given me of writing Christian lyrics and songs. This year, as a “New Year challenge”, I’d like to ask you to do something. It’s not to spend more time in prayer and bible reading, although of course I’ll encourage you if you set yourself this task. Instead, ask yourself if God wants you to grow in a new way - and what that new way might be? Let’s not be just the same as we are now, this time next year! John Hartley
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