fo r whoever He sends across our path. A. It is a joy to receive your letter which expresses so well a refreshing attitude. You have learned the se cret of happy living. Many approach retirement with apprehension, feel ing that their years of usefulness are over, when actually the retirement years can be golden — years of joy and fruitful service. A godly man in his eighties told our chapel service recently: “ The decade between sev enty and eighty were the fullest, most productive, and very best years of my life. And the years since then have been even better!” You have an excellent motto we all could do well to adopt: “ Available!” We are to be available to serve the Lord by helping others. I am remind ed of the Scripture, “ Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of these, ye have done it unto Me.” As we lose our lives in serving others, not only do we lift their burdens, but also we find joy and happiness ourselves. This gives purpose and meaning to life. I trust your letter will be an in spiration to many who are approach ing retirement, causing them to con sider how they can best use these years to serve the Lord. In our own organization, some of the most pro ductive members of our staff are men and women who are in the so- called retirement years. Actually they are serving millions through the ministries of the Narramore Christian Foundation as well as pro viding encouragement, inspiration and blessing to all our staff. I like your attitude: “We thank God for our retirement years and the greater opportunities to invest our lives in others.” T h e J o y of Sou l W in n in g Even if I were uterly selfish and had no care fo r anything bu t m y ow n happiness, I would choose if I might, under God, to be a soul-winner; fo r never did I know p erfect over flowing, unutterable happi ness o f the purest and most ennobling order till I first heard o f one who had sought and fo u n d th e S a v io u r through my means. No young mother ever so rejoiced over her first-born child, no war rior was so exultant over a hard-won victory. —Charles H. Spurgeon
w ttollUttifUOV&L with Dr. Clyde M. Narramore Dr. Narramore, graduate of Columbia University, New York City, is a nationally known psychologist. He is the director of one of America's largest psychological clinics — The Christian Counseling center in Rosemead, California.
May I suggest that you try to think less of yourself and your own world ly ambitions. Daily read the Word and ask the Lord to guide you in thinking of others and how you might be a blessing to them. As you grow in Christ, your greatest desire will be to share the message of sal vation. This begins in your own community, but who knows ? Your in fluence could reach around the world. You might even become famous. Many of our outstanding Christian leaders never expected the world re nown which they have experienced. Earthly fame is fleeting at best. But as you seek to honor Christ with your life, you are assured of a fame which will last for eternity. THANK GOD FOR RETIREMENT YEARS Q. Recently I noticed a young mother in our church taking her screaming four-year-old out, spanking him all the way to their car. Hurriedly I caught up with her. As we sat in the car and talked, I learned that her husband was leaving the next day for overseas duty. Soon she and the chil dren would move across the country. Another child had just undergone ear surgery that very week! When she had tried to leave her young son that day, he began to cry. A t that point all the mother’s anxi eties came to the front. As we talked quietly together, this young mother decided she could take Billy back and stay with him fo r this class period. Billy had impressions from a previ ous experience in church nursery schools which caused him to be fear ful, but mother’ s presence with him that first day was all the reassurance he needed. A day or two later I called in the home and shared some o f the helpful literature I keep available fo r this purpose. This young lady told me later she had especially appreciated your book, “ Understanding Your Children.’’ We thank God fo r our retirement years and the greater opportunities to invest our lives in others. We have time now fo r letter-writing, friendly phone calls, visiting homes, and time
IS THE DESIRE FOR FAME SINFUL? Q . All my life I’ve wanted to be well- known and well-liked. This may not seem important to others, but it is a serious problem with me. My par ents led me to the Lord when I was very young, but I still have this strong desire to be famous. In high school I participated in every drama tic performance and play, all the while wishing I were a fashion model or actress. It isn’t that I want to be popular and can’t. I have always been well accepted. But my greatest desire is to perform fo r people and become famous. Is this wrong in God’s sight ? Is it strange for a Christian girl to seek fame? A. I do appreciate your writing about this dilemma you face. Your letter is forthright and deals with a problem experienced not only by young people, but also by older men and women as well. Many people go through life with an intense desire to be noticed and applauded by the crowds. Actually this is a mark of immaturity and indicates that a per son is not. living close to the Lord. You say you are a Christian, yet there is nothing in your letter to indicate you are growing in Christ and asking the Holy Spirit to control your life. What you need to do first is surrender your life and will to the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask Him to take away the pride that blurs your vi sion and help you to glorify God, not yourself. When you are yielded to Christ, God can use you. Your gifts and abilities are His endowment, and it is possible He has a wonderful min istry for your life in the field of drama which you love so much. The most important accomplishment in life is not to be famous, but to be the kind of yielded Christian whom God can use to be a blessing to all whose lives one touches. Really your letter sounds less like that of a mature young lady and more like a child’s. You are thinking of yourself and drawing attention to yourself. A healthy, mature person ality reaches beyond itself to others. SEPTEMBER, 1969
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