I love old people.

I love old people. Love them. A funny part of our Road to Santa Clara story is that although we moved down there to be the college pastor, we ended up leading the SonShiner’s group instead–the 50-and-over group that was really the 80-and-over group. Every Sunday morning we’d drink Folgers and nibble donut holes with them and listen to their aches and pains, joys and sorrows.  Every week we’d sing hymns with them, us with our noses pressed into our hymnals reading every word, them with their hymnals closed, singing every verse by heart.

I still remember when we first began and we were asking around to learn what to expect and how things were run. The self-appointed leader explained, “After the first three hymns there’s usually some silence and then after awhile Clyde always leads out in The Old Rugged Cross. It’s not planned that way but he always does it, so don’t change things up because he’ll be upset.”  And sure enough, we’d wait long enough to start to feel awkward, and then lo and behold Clyde would pipe up from the back and the congregation was off to the races in their traditional hymn.

I loved it. I loved them. Because we were young everyone always assumed we should be youth pastors. They always thought that we’d be drawn to the middle schoolers or high schoolers. No way.  Give me the 80-somethings and I’ll feel right at home.

Today we had the privilege of being with another sort of SonShiner group. Jeff had the honor of speaking at a Multnomah Seminary benefit banquet held especially for all the long-time donors who have written Multnoman into their wills or made some sort of planned giving commitment for their estates after they go to be with Jesus.

Let’s just say these are the faithful of the faithful. Not a soul under seventy, the room was full of a collective probably thousands of years of missionary work, ministry, faithful giving .  Many graduated from Multnomah in the 50s, one couple had met at Multnomah and been sweethearts there, and were now approaching their 60th wedding anniversary.  Precious.

So it was a joy to be with them. For some reason older folks seem to be drawn to Jeff and we enjoy listening to their amazing tales of ministry, loss, victory, triumph, perseverance.  We sat at a table and listened to each person share how they came to Christ. Every story made my eyes fill with tears because they all point to a relentless Savior who goes to great lengths to reach His children.  Trends change, fads come and go–Our Savior’s love never changes.

Jeff’s message was ABIDE: life on the vine. The gist of it was that when we are connected to the vine we cannot help but bear fruit. We don’t have to manufacture it, stress over it, come up with it on our own. It just grows, and all those around us can feast on the fruit of our connection to Christ. These faithful saints have followed Christ for many years and their lives are just teeming with fruit.

No matter how old their are their fruit is always fresh.

Jeff and I both personally feasted on their fruit simply in that we both received scholarships to Multnomah… made possible through these generous donors. But I also feasted on their fruit today–listening to their stories, learning from their experiences.

I love old people. Especially faithful ones. I hope to be one someday.

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Thanks for reading.

By grace, with joy,

Kari