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Missionary (Mis)Adventures - Peter Pan Had It Right
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Pocket Full of Quarters Trek 2009 – Give ‘em Heaven
Missionary (Mis)Adventures - Peter Pan Had It Right
By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
Washington DC
I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt 18:3-4 NIV
Peter Pan was a little boy who never grew up. The rest of the world grew old and he was so busy playing, he didn't notice. I’ve heard it said that you are as old as you think you are. Recently, I started to think maybe I needed others else to tell me how old I really was.
I remember the day I realized the world considered me middle aged. I was sitting at the table with several of my employees. I was about 35. Most of them were newly out of college. I felt like one of them and considered myself to be in their age group – still young. As we chatted, one of them made a comment that let me know they considered me middle aged.
Did they forget I controlled their employment status and paychecks? Maybe they were not as brilliant as I thought they were.
I’ve rocked along for years wrestling with admitting I was middle aged. Recent events have me rethinking things completely.
“Cheryle, you’re no spring chicken. You probably need to think about slowing down.” Uncle Bobby always frets when I’m about to leave on a missionary journey. He does his best to talk me out of going. This time he used my age as ammunition.
During the first week of the trip, I explained to my dinner companion that I couldn’t order what she was eating because I was lactose intolerant.
“I’ve heard that happens when you get older,” this young woman said sympathetically.
“I was lactose intolerant in my 20’s,” I said dryly. She had no clue she had let me know she considered me old.
Just a week later, I sat down to dinner and asked the server, “How much is the buffet?”
“The senior price is $7.95,” the perky young woman said. There went her tip.
I’ve spent the last week with Inside Out Ministries. I thought I’d done pretty well keeping up with everyone. We walked for sometimes 12 hours a day and I don’t think I slowed anyone down. Most of the group were younger than me but not everyone. Certainly, no one could accuse me of not being adventurous.
In DC, we used a local church van for transportation. As I climbed in, I stepped up and stumbled into the awkward seat. Churches often use their vans to transport senior citizens and I wondered how they got in and out.
I groaned as I sat down. “I’m not sure I’d be able to do this in 10 years.”
“You won’t have to,” a team member piped up. “You’ll be in heaven by then.”
“What?” I said. “You think I only have 10 years left?” Everyone in the van went to laughing.
“No,” she said quickly. “ No. I meant that the Lord will come before that. None of us will be here in 10 years. The Lord is coming soon. We will all be in heaven. I didn’t mean that you would die in 10 years. I wasn’t calling you old.” Good cover.
I pondered what age constituted senior citizen status. Was I old? I’m only 56 and I feel better than I did at 26. But, I’m only middle aged if I plan to live to 112. I’m not yet old enough for Social Security and not eligible to senior discounts. So what was I?
Suddenly, I relaxed and went to laughing. No wonder I’d never liked the label “middle aged.” God had given me the answer in His word. I was supposed to be like a child. In fact, it takes a child-like spirit to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
I’ll just keep blowing my bubbles, playing with my dog, and tromping through woods for as long as my legs will hold me up. I don’t have to be middle aged or a senior citizen. I can just be a child and dance my way through my days. I’ll keep playing with children until they outgrow me and then I’ll play with the next generation of children. Peter Pan had it right.
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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.
This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road as a traveling missionary, send your tax deductible contribution to Pocket Full of Change Ministries, POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240 or go to the donate button on the home page of this website.
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