From 60s to 70s

I am truly in my 60s, though not many would believe it, especially those who see me in action. Tomorrow I am flying off to a city in the East Coast of Sabah and it was more than 3 months since I flew for ministry. I thought in my 60s, I would probably fly more often than drive, as driving on Sabah roads could be treacherous to say the least. When I was in my 30s when I left my HQ post as Treasurer-General I thought to myself that if only 10 Districts invite me to preach, that would be fine as I travelled to 28 districts in 3 years when I was 31-34 years old.

Then when I pastored my first church in my late 30s and early 40s, I said to myself, if only 5 Districts invite me to preach that would be fine and that stayed true into my 50s when I returned from Singapore to Sabah as I turned 50 years old. In the last couple of years, now into my 60s I said to myself, I don't mind the occasional invitation from one or two Districts, but then I realised driving for 90 minutes to one of the closest districts, say Kota Belud to and fro is already wearisome. 

Early in June, I drove for nearly 3 hours one way to my former College in Namaus, Ranau and back to KK for another 3 hours on a day trip. I don't remember ever making a day trip to College even in my early 50s and it was purely God's grace that I made close 200 trips back and forth Ranau-KK in my early 50s (50-54), up and down the Mount Kinabalu road on the way to Ranau another 30 minutes away from the mountain. 

Now in my 60s, I do not plan to accept invitations from faraway places unless it is reachable by air and I would cut down driving as much as possible unless there is another driver or co-driver that would make driving more pleasant and less tiresome. My friend just mentioned to me over lunch many of his friends already passed away in their early or mid-60s. We attended a remembrance sitting in Court two years ago when we honoured 30 plus lawyers who passed away during the pandemic until August 2023 within 4 years, yet many had gone to the other side before those who are still alive. I answered my friend, "let's live each day fully, serving God the best we can". For we do not know what tomorrow will bring.