If you ever visit, sitting on a shelf in our guest bathroom is a fun book titled When I Was Your Age. Each chapter is just a few sentences long to encourage a quick exit from that room.
The subtitle is Remarkable achievements of writers, artists, and musicians at every age from 1 to 100. I read a new chapter every year. I’m a slow reader.
This year, I learned that Agatha Christie turned her story, “Three Blind Mice” into a play called The Mousetrap. It ran for over forty years. Not bad for a 42-year-old writer… give or take a couple of decades.
A few years ago, I learned that at age 51, Leonardo Da Vinci started painting the Mona Lisa. At age 41, Bing Crosby spent 18 minutes in a studio recording “White Christmas” which went on to become the biggest-selling single of all time. At age 33, Theodor Geisel, under the name Dr. Seuss, published a children’s book called, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. At age 27, Charles Schulz’s comic strip, Peanuts, appeared in eight newspapers, and at the tender age of 19, Mary Shelley wrote a ghost story based on her nightmare called Frankenstein.
I like these kinds of interesting little tidbits. The idea behind the little book is to let us know that whatever age we may be, it’s not too late to create your masterpiece. There’s something wonderfully Gospel-filled about that kind of thinking.
I glanced over some of our LOGOI National Missionaries to have my version of When I Was Your Age and smiled to be reminded that, after being baptized at age 15, Jonathan Paucar was so joyful for what Jesus had done for him, he soon became the director of the youth and Sunday School ministries of his church.
After retiring from 34 years of mission work in Mexico, “Grandma Donna” began prison work in Madison, Georgia with Hispanic inmates. “When they are released from prison,” Donna explains, “many go back home to their families and even their respective countries. Just think, some are returning as new creatures in Christ and bringing Jesus back with them.”
Pastor Luis Alejandro is still zipping around in dugout canoes in tributaries along the Amazon River. This happy grandpa still believes “There is no greater joy than to see lives transformed when they believe in Jesus.”
It took Beatriz in Mexico years to overcome the crushing heartache, confusion, and bitterness brought on by divorce. “It took a while,” she explains, “but I finally began to understand who I truly am. I am God’s precious child. I am accepted and unconditionally loved — purchased by the blood of Jesus. That is what defines me.” She felt God leading her to start Beginning Again, a ministry for other women shattered by divorce. “Because of Jesus, I get to help others restart with joy.”
I glanced over the stories of many others in our LOGOI family and started to think maybe we should start our own When I Was Your Age book dedicated to the remarkable achievements of people touched by Jesus and what they are doing with that precious gift.
After all, one day the Mona Lisa will be gone despite the best efforts of the museum curators. The Mousetrap’s run came to an end as did Charles Schulz and his Peanuts comic strip. Somehow, Frankenstein keeps showing up, but that too, will one day end along with all of Dr. Seuss’ children’s books.
The Bible tells us there are only two eternal things on our planet: people and God’s Word. Everything else will ultimately be destroyed — everything (see 2 Peter 3:7-12). That should surely help us set priorities.
So, we joyfully encourage you to invest your time and finances in that which will last forever. Thank you for including LOGOI in your eternal investment plans. You are very much a part of investing in people and God’s Word. Thank you!
I try to not peek too far ahead in that little When I Was Your Age book, but I couldn’t help it. I flipped over to the last page where they mentioned Grandma Moses. At age 100, she went back to work and completed 25 more paintings.
Just think about what you can yet accomplish!
P.S. We would like to ask you once more to consider supporting one or more students of the master’s degree in Bible Teaching in Cuba. Click here to provide a $56 scholarship.
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