The Software Side of Retirement | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: The Software Side of Retirement | Previous Challenge Entry
By Coleene VanTilburg
04/30/09
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

Hardware, software, download, Google, mouse, internet, browser...well, a mouse I knew; those pesky rodents that gnaw into the bags of rice. For sixty years now on the mission field, I had "run my race" as the Apostle Paul would say. Now, approaching seventy, I was being told to come back home; permanent furlough. God had a new plan. It would be overwhelming to finally sift through all my journal writings. I was always used to getting things done myself, not a real social guy and lately it seemed I was not thinking as clear so I knew I could not delay any longer this decision. Now, here in my home church, the faithful are giving me a retirement luncheon and have just presented me with a generous gift of a laptop computer.

"Tom Wyatt, we have been blessed by your many letters over the years telling us of your work and God's miracles on the mission field.” The minister continued, “Many of these letters have inspired others to pursue the mission field as well. Your work, translating God's words, giving people in remote tribes in Africa the Bible in their own native tongue is continued throughout the world, as there are still 2000 people groups who do not yet have the scripture. With today's technology, we are seeing the time table this normally takes, begin to shrink.”

How ironic that I would be the one needing a translator facing a world made smaller by new technology that I had conveniently avoided. I would need someone to come along side me and guide me through this new mission field of cyberspace. In all my adventures, spiritual battles and diseases God had brought me through, I had always depended on his promises and wisdom. So now, why was I so anxious returning to a country, to a home that now felt foreign to me? I felt illiterate but too prideful to say anything. I did not have a clue how to use a computer and I had kept that a secret. I am sure they were all assuming I would have the first draft of my book ready for edit in a few short months. Actually, the mission’s board was hoping for some copy within a few weeks. When I returned to my room in the retirement community apartments, I knelt, as so many times before on the dirt floor of thatched-roofed huts and besieged God.

“Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to be of service to you all these many years. You know Lord, I really did not want to leave, but it seems I need to make room for younger servants as you lead me in this new direction. I feel the softness coming into my head sometimes; what time I have left, well you know Lord the number of my days. Lord, only I can tell the story of this journey. I pray you soften the pride of this hardened, grub-eating, malaria surviving, old school missionary and continue to use me until I am called Home. I want to translate your Glory and faithfulness to this next generation of workers. You have supplied me with tools, this hardware, this software…these many boxes of journals surrounding me to write and teach, but Lord I pray for forgiveness of my pride and direct me once more in your wisdom needed to achieve this daunting assignment before me. Allow me to be teachable once again; to be soft, malleable clay in the Potter’s Hands, forming a new vessel."

It is Saturday morning and there is an overly-energetic knock on my screen door. I recognize this young man as my home church’s youth pastor and it seems he brought along a few students as well.

“Good morning Mr. Wyatt; their arms filled with $4.00 coffees and the wide-eyes of someone who already had their first cup. Did you remember we were coming by? said Josh, as he read my face of unexpectancy. We would like to help you with your transition and maybe give you a few lessons on that new computer of yours, but mostly we came to learn some things that God taught you on the mission field.”

God was quick to answer my call. What I had to fear and what pride I had to relinquish began to soften that morning as the Lord would rework this stubborn heart and prepare me for the softer side of ministry translated through the Body of Christ.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.