When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability (Acts 1:1-4)
This is a pretty awe-inspiring scene that we hear about
every year on Pentecost. It can be too easy to relegate the coming of the Holy
Spirit to far-off times and places. However, God and the Spirit are not constrained.
The Spirit of God blows on each of us throughout our life. Take some time to
think about when and where and how that has happened to you.
As we enter the long season of Pentecost, I will be launching
a new series, looking at women and men in the Bible who felt the power of the
Spirit even in their ‘old age’. God finds and uses us in any quarter of life. The
gifts we’ve been cultivating throughout life can still be fruitful and a
blessing to others—even (esp.) those younger.
In May of 2025, Mark Roberts of the De Pree Institute wrote, “The desire to make a difference for the next generations is built into our mental, emotional, and spiritual DNA. It also shows up in Scripture. For example, we read in Psalm 71:17-18: O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come. The psalm writer’s desire to proclaim God’s might “to all the generations to come” is a classic example of generativity.” (Generativity, Roberts notes, “could be described as a deep desire to leave a legacy for the future, not just a financial legacy, but a legacy of excellence, example, empowerment, and encouragement.”)
I think that is what many of us are seeking, a way to leave
a legacy of hope, especially in a deeply troubled and fractured world. Psalm
71:14-15 promises, As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you
more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts
all day long… The aged persons in the Bible can teach us how to build and
leave and share that legacy of faith, hope and love.
Various studies and authors note that the last third of life
is a time of releasing and sharing what we have accumulated. That is not just
material things, although we may be divesting ourselves from much of that. It
is a desire to share the marvelous deeds of God in our lives. To give our
testimony so that the next generation can be inspired.
Western society may look at the 60’s and beyond as a time
when the ‘old folks’ are put out to pasture. Sometimes it can feel like we are
subtly being pushed aside in ministry. It is good to make room for the younger
generation, certainly. They need to take their place in the life of the parish
and community, AND, we can empower them.
Many societies have a more intimate and caring relationship
with their elders. They understand there is much that can be learned from white
haired women and men because elders are keepers of knowledge and heritage.
Elders are to be listened to, honored, and learned from. Elders have time to
sit and tell the stories of the past so it is not lost and so it is learned
from. When we look at the lives and faith of Bible women, and men, who are
known to have lived a long life, we can find inspiration for ways to encourage
and empower others without seeming to force our faith and reminiscences on
them. We can sit at their feet and learn how we are empowered by the Holy
Spirit and able to encourage and empower others, of all ages.
Each month we will look at a pair of Biblical elders, hear
their story, ponder how the Spirit of God worked in their lives, consider how
we relate and can be inspired by their witness to allow the Spirit to move in
our lives.
Next week, we’ll start with Elizabeth and Zechariah with the
basic question of “Do I think God can still talk to me when I’m old?”
