Don't Call Me a Senior!

I have come to the conclusion that it is best to erase the term "senior" as in Senior Citizen from my vocabulary.  If society agreed with me, the ramifications are many!  We have senior centers, senior moments, senior living, senior menus, senior adult pastors and ministries, and the beloved senior discounts.  The Builder Generation (born before 1946) may embrace the term, but they are never offended if I don’t refer to them by it.  On the other hand, if I refer to the new wave of retiring Americans (The Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964) as seniors, I better get ready to duck.  The only thing they like about the title senior is the DISCOUNT.  So I call them "older adults."  They (or I since I am 53) may not like the term "older" but it is better than "senior," and no one has come up with anything better.  So, older adult ministries is their brand.  Actually, the EFCA has come up with a fesh new brand: EFCA ENCORE.

The mental picture of a musical encore fits well with Christians in their second half of life. They would say that just like a good concert, life has been good because God is good, but they don’t want it (a concert or life) to be over.  They want more, they want an encore.  And just like a concert, they hope that the best has been saved for last.

Christians entering, or those already in their second half of life, trust that God has saved the best for last.  I spoke with a retiree in Texas who is loving his volunteer work in a juvenile prison.  "I’ve never enjoyed what I do more!"  A 55-year-old woman who transitioned from the printing business in Tennessee has never been more fulfilled than now when she is teaching English in a university in China.  People today are living longer and healthier than the generations before them, and they have received a lifetime of Christian training from sermons, Bible studies, Christian radio and TV.  What are they doing with those talents?  The Bible is clear in Matthew 25:29 that, "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.  Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."

A wave of older adults is about to retire, semi-retire or at least empty their nest.  They have more discretionary time to give to something.  The best saved for last allows for some travel and relaxation, but a true encore would mean using their talents for the glory of God. The notion of seniors biding their time on rocking chairs is out.  We may be older adults, but we’re not done yet.  We want an encore!

Is Your Home Your Castle or Your Cottage? an article by Chris Holck.  Find a rhythm of life that lines up with your inner desire to make a difference and leave a legacy.