My family moved 23 times by the time I was 12 years old, because of Dad being in the Navy. Because of that I didn’t have any friends except my immediate family as a kid. After Dad retired from the Navy we lived five years at the first farm, and then moved to the Trout Lake Dairy. My graduating class at Trout Lake had seven students, it was a small school. All of that to say, I grew up with few friends and was a major introvert for most of my life. I preferred to fish by myself, work on cars by myself, and travel by myself. It is amazing that I went into ministry as a Pastor.

But as I have gotten older I don’t enjoy doing anything by myself anymore. I don’t go fishing unless with a friend or grandson, I can’t motivate myself to go out and work on the 1969 Mustang by myself, the thought of driving to Portland by myself makes me cringe.

The “Seniors” had a barbecue at the church Wednesday, and I went and stayed and visited with lots of people and had a wonderful time of fellowship, I felt a great deal of joy from being with others my age. There was a time, not that long ago when my appearance at church social events was “token,” that is I showed up for a few minutes, showed my face, shook a few hands because it was my duty as the Pastor. Now, I live for the next social event because friends give me energy and make me happy. It used to be that people drained me of energy unless it was a very small group of close friends.

The change in me from being an introvert to an extrovert was gradual and a result of choosing to spend more time with people when I was depressed rather than less, which was my history. I discovered that I was quickly lifted up in my joy level, especially if I looked for ways to encourage others I was with, instead of just focusing on my problems. The “Seniors” barbecue is an example, I know that many older people like myself are struggling with health issues, family problems, and energy shortages, so I listened, paid attention, and encouraged when it was appropriate. I left feeling good.

In reading all the verses that I can find on heaven, it looks like fellowship is what eternity is about. The emphasis isn’t about what we accomplish, it is about being with Jesus and each other. I think that is why the emphasis in the New Testament is loving one another, forgiving each other, serving one another, being kind to one another, greeting one another, and on the list goes. Heaven is a party.

As I have gotten older some things have gotten worse, but also some things have gotten better.