A 99 year old Dutch lady,
Annie, and 102 year old Edie in St. Louis fulfilled their dreams by getting
arrested. (As reported by CNN 3/1/17)
Annie wanted to “experience a police cell from within.” She
had the time of her life “when she was picked up by police, cuffed and locked
up.”
According to the news report,
Edie requested that she be arrested at her senior center while she was
delivering her handmade craft items. She
probably wanted to make sure her friends witnessed the exciting event.
These are two ladies whose
“bucket list” aspirations are definitely unique and not what I have in mind for
my 100th birthday. In my
braver moments I want to ride a zip line or sky dive, but the older I get the
less likely either will happen. I have
enough aches and pains from just a day of shopping at the grocery store or
mall.
The FOX 13 TV Station in Tampa
featured the following story. “96 Year
Old World War II pilot takes flight again in Florida.” Adventuresome Bob Brocklehurst, gave a thumbs
up as he took to the air in a P-51Mustang like the one he flew for the military. During the war he was stationed in Alaska for
two terms protecting the Aleutian Islands from the Japanese. After 70 years, he
was not content to just co-pilot the plane so he took the controls for a loop
and a barrel roll. According to Bob, “I felt right at home.”
 |
| P-51 Mustang |
My late bloomer husband and
private pilot husband, Charles, definitely has this on his “dream list.” Charles wasn’t a military pilot, but helped
to taxi and repair many types of military planes while he was in the Navy. His dream is to get back in the pilot’s seat
of a general aviation aircraft that he has built.
The lesson I plan to teach this
Sunday during children’s church is about Simeon and Anna—two senior adults in
the Bible who saw their dreams fulfilled.
When Mary & Joseph brought Jesus to the temple when he was eight
days old to be presented to the Lord they were met by Simeon—a righteous and
devout man who yearned to see the “consolation of Israel.” He recognized Jesus
as the one who had been promised as the “glory of Israel” and “a light for
revelation to the gentiles.” Anna, a
widow and prophetess at the temple, prayed for many years to see the “redemption
of Israel.” God fulfilled both of their
heart-felt dreams when they were allowed to see and hold the infant Jesus. Luke 2:29-32
(Quoted from the English Standard Version of the
Bible)
A dream is defined in the
English Oxford Living Dictionary as “A cherished aspiration, ambition, or
ideal.”
Do we dare to dream and
think about the plans that God still has for us? Like the prophetess, Anna, we must never lose
hope that God will answer our prayer.
Like Simeon, we need to listen to God’s instruction and be available
when given an opportunity. Remember, if
it’s a dream God has placed in your mind and heart—He always shows up on
time. Keep praying and waiting.
