After this lesson, we all went to a large gathering area and ate together while we visited and then listened to a double barbershop quartet perform old classics. That was great fun. Then we sat around those tables and sang a while more. Then Robert Hatfield, who is in his early twenties, talked for about five minutes about what the elderly people in the room meant to Him. He spoke in very encouraging tones, taking his text from one of the Psalms. Then Glenn spoke again for about five minutes and the final prayer concluded the day’s activities around 12:30.
The most contagious spirit of cooperation and optimism was the best part of the day. Everyone was excited and smiles and hugs were everywhere you looked. These senior Christians were obviously where they wanted to be and they were there to soak up every idea. You could tell, not just from their words, but from the intent manner in which they listened and the excitement on their faces that they were going to implement the ideas that were not already a part of their lives. In general, they made me want to be just like them “when I grow up.”
I’m impressed when we have youth days with the enthusiasm of our teens. But I do believe these seniors exhibited an even greater attitude of service than I usually see from our youth. I believe the attendance was better than at most youth days. I believe they sang with more fervor and visited with more friendliness.
I think we should have more of these senior days. I believe they arrived with eagerness and left with resolve. Now, when they do the things they decided to do, thirty congregations are going to grow. And those teens in those churches are going to grow, too, because these godly older people are going to love and mentor them.
One more thing…I’m not really old enough yet to be at a Senior Day. I just came with the speaker.