Reflections from the National Religious Broadcasters Convention (Part 4 of 4)

You’re Never Too Old

As I fly home from New York City with aching muscles after trudging miles through Manhattan in my “cute” but painful shoes, it’s easy to ask the question “Am I getting too old for this?”

But God continues to encourage me to keep at it by placing people more “seasoned” in my path. The National Religious Broadcasters Convention was no exception.

Some of the Christian media movers and shakers are gently transitioning into their seventies and eighties and showing no signs of slowing down. One of the speakers, Bible study author Kay Arthur, is 84 and not ashamed to announce her age publicly.

Another interesting NRB presenter was nationally syndicated radio show host Dennis Prager. Prager’s now on the sunny side of 70.

I had the pleasure of briefly meeting one of my favorite on-air preachers and authors, Dr. David Jeremiah. At 77, Dr. Jeremiah still speaks around the nation, and in his spare time, writes books and pastors a large church.

Before every special luncheon or dinner, my radio co-host of A Time to Dream, Donna Skell, and I always pray for divine appointments. At the Media Awards Luncheon, we sat next to a friendly, beautiful couple. While I am terrible at guessing a person’s age, I am fairly confident the wife was close to a decade older than me. However, she was dynamic, full of energy and still hosts a television show that broadcasts nationally.

All of these people are living biblically. Except in the case of the Levite priests, the Bible says nothing about retirement. Instead it says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

I come from a long line of hard workers. My grandmother was a bookkeeper at a doctor’s office into her eighties.

My architect grandfather was still designing homes in his eighties. Both of them lived into their nineties. Maybe there is something to be said about work keeping you young.

But the negative voice still creeps in occasionally and whispers, “You’re too old” or “People don’t take you seriously anymore.”

When this happens to you, rebuke the thought! You’re obviously making a difference and the enemy of your soul wants to discourage you.

Just this week, I spoke at the Christian Women in Media Northeast Regional Connection in New York City. I was hoping to reconnect with a woman I met at a Global Media Summit last year. She is a part of the NYC group, but couldn’t attend because she was speaking and shooting a segment for her television show that has just gone international. She’s 74.

Too old? Never.

A has been? No.

Washed up? Not until God tells you “Welcome Home.”

If you’re a Baby Boomer like me, I want to encourage you to keep dreaming, to persevere and to be open to new opportunities just like you were in your twenties. Remember, Moses was eighty when God launched his ministry. The LORD simply needs to know you are willing and ready to be used by Him.