WHAT DOES A 69 YEAR OLD HAVE TO SAY TO A 27 YEAR OLD
A Chance meeting
" Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good." Titus 2: 6,7a
Once in awhile I will go down to my favorite coffee shop and have my usual latte while reading or working on the weekly devotion. A few weeks ago, I was reading CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan. I decided I would hold the book in such a way that people would ask what I was reading. My idea was to hopefully have the opportunity to share the message in the book. Now don't get me wrong, this was not something that gave me a lot of comfort. To be truthful, I was scared somebody would actually notice and ask.
It didn't take long before a young man walked by and noticed the book. It turned out he had read it and this opened up a short conversation about the book and it's author. When he got ready to leave, he asked for my card and said he would call so we could talk further. I really did not expect him to call, but he did.
When we met, our conversation lasted almost two hours. It was, to say the least, an interesting situation and a real high note for the whole week. It turned out that he was the Young Life leader at one of the local high schools. Our discussion centered a lot on what the younger generation thought about Christianity and what they thought of those who called themselves Christian. I could tell he was deeply spiritual and his comments truly enlightened me. (Enough for me to go buy a book on the subject-UNCHRISTIAN)
He then asked me what would a 69 year old have to say to a 27 year old? Here I was with a generation I would desperately love to touch and this may be my only opportunity.
My response that day was simple - "be on guard" That may sound like a negative approach but I intended it to be positive steps he could take at this stage in his life and steps in being prepared for the future.
The following are some thoughts I relayed to my new friend and some God has added for our next conversation.
Be on guard in your marriage. Never take your marriage for granted and always recognize that every marriage takes commitment and work. My friend had been married four years and was still in the honeymoon stage. The emotions in these first five years are running wild and everything is bliss.
But he was about to enter a very critical next stage. At the end of five years, the honeymoon is over and children are now a big part of our time, thoughts, and attention. Men are focussing a lot of attention on their careers. This can be a most enjoyable time in our marriage, but be on guard for the work is just starting. If we are not careful, we can wake up one morning after ten years and wonder where all the fantastic emotions went. Be on guard for distractions that come against your marriage. Sports today can be a real burden on families. The kids are involved in two or three different sports programs that take up a lot of time during the week and weekends. Families today can find it hard to have a meal together. After running kids from one game to another all weekend, mom and dad can find themselves with no time or energy for romance or intimacy.
It is the next ten years that are the most critical and where we need to be on guard the most. Statistics tell us that the average time of breakup in marriage is fourteen years.
We can become bored, tired of the hum-drum, and looking for something to give our life a spark. Statistics also tell us the more successful we are the greater the danger. Be on guard about concentrating on the negatives, being to critical, and letting your imaginations run away. Know what you are facing and be prepared to take the necessary steps to keep the flame alive.
Take it from a 69 year old - there is no greater feeling in the world than to have your family surrounding you at your Thanksgiving table and you are at the head of the table.
This is your family and the beautiful, young, sweet thing you married so many years ago has truly become your best friend.
