Advent, Part Three
Travel Journal, 112
He stood in front of me, tears in his eyes as he spoke of the men and women who served God faithfully.
Were these tears of sorrow? No, these were tears of Joy, which is this week’s Advent theme.
So many things give me joy. I have been accused of liking everything—every movie I see in the theater, every discussion topic, every hobby I learn, and every food I eat. You may think that this is a good thing, but I assure you, no. It just makes me want all the toys and things this life can offer. I want a telescope, a new bookshelf, a polaroid camera, new records, three more bookshelves, three-thousand more books, running shoes, a rowing machine, a kite, and an espresso machine for my birthday. This is not good. It just means that my joy is fleeting and then I’m on to the next thing.
But Ron spoke of a different joy. Stories full of real joy.
All the stories are the same, but they’re also so very different. The stories tell of so-and-so, down the lane, who lived and served on an island off the coast of Japan. There was Ms.________ who worked in the country of Chad (Africa) for 35 years. Oh, and don’t forget her neighbor; she was a single missionary and married later in life. They worked in both Scotland and Jamaica.
Ron and his wife, Joy, live in the backwoods village of Silva, Missouri where, nestled in the trees of the holler, lies the thriving community of Missionary Acres. Over the sprawling property sits a 25-acre park (complete with walkway and gazebo) and over 30 houses. When a missionary seeks retirement, a great option is to come here. This is no assisted living or nursing home. These are simply real houses, housing real people, who’ve done and continue to do God’s real work. Down each lane, you’ll find over 600 years of combined Christian service (yes, you heard that right). Missionaries from all over the world have moved here, seeking retirement and rest. And they may be retired, but these people know nothing of rest.
Ron told story after story that were the same, but different—same format, same style, same faithfulness. For almost 60 years, Missionary acres has given Missionaries, Pastors, and Christian school teachers and administrators a place to hang their hat in retirement.
I really hesitate to call this place a “retirement community.” This isn’t a place of shuffle board and bingo. God’s servants truly never retire. A Christian is called continually to show the love of Christ to the people around them. Age sets no boundary.
They care for people. They serve, just like they did when they were in Africa or Europe or the USA. The only think that’s changed for the retirees is their age. But the work is still the same—showing people the love and joy found in Christ.
Here live the heroes of the faith.
And they are people of a great joy. And when Christ was born, the angels spoke the same message that missionaries worldwide continue to speak. It is a message not of fear, but a good news of great joy for all people. (Luke 2)
In our current spiritual desert of a world, many people are comfortably content with the dry and sad joys that don’t last. But Christ makes the wilderness and the dry land glad. (Isaiah 35) Jesus Christ came to this earth bringing the only lasting joy that mankind will ever have. Toys and more bookshelves might make me fleetingly happy, but the true lasting joy of Christ is truly satisfying.
anthony forrest
Follow along with the Advent tradition! Here are a few passages of Scripture for this week’s theme:
Joy
And be sure to check out Advent, Part One on the Idyllic Christmas as well as Advent, Part Two on Real Peace