If we ever had a notion that retirement
from formal pastoral ministry meant separation from the issues that trouble
people around us, these past five years have cured us. I am nine years into
retirement and five years ago we moved from our detached home on a third of an
acre to a unit in a strata complex. At this moment (12:40pm Jul 19), Christine
is sitting with a young wife who voluntarily came over in tears to talk about
her marriage that has died. Thirty minutes earlier her husband spoke with both
of us apologizing for the noise emitted from their unit when they fight, and
through tears saying they are trying. On several occasions we have lifted a
drunken, weed smoking woman from her toilet and her floor and her bathtub when
she could not move but her cell phone was within reach. In the past I have been
asked to officiate a funeral for a resident, and Christine has played the piano
for that service for which the family requested one hymn of their choice.
"Amazing Grace," sung at full volume by an auditorium of unregenerate
people, enfolded by the gospel. We have spent time with a dying neighbour in
palliative care and been able to ensure that we would know the Father's love
for her. We have harvested first name relationships with many people, shared
appies and meals. We have experienced our own health concerns and appreciated
the interest and concern of our neighbours. We have discovered neighbours who are
believers. We have found covert Christians disenchanted by their previous church
histories. Church does not guarantee community, but interestingly community can
be church.Sunset
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