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Rich in Years: Finding Peace and Purpose in a Long Life 


Rich in Years: Finding Peace and Purpose in a Long Life
By Johann Christoph Arnold
The Plough Publishing House, Robertsbridge, East Sussex 
ISBN 978-0-87486-898-2
Reviewer: Paul Beasley-Murray


Rich in YearsThis is a book full of wisdom, written by an experienced pastor, himself in his 70s. The tenor of the book is indicated by the words of Robert Browning which head the very first chapter:
 
Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith ‘A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half; trust God:
See all, nor be afraid!’

 
In developing his theme, the author draws upon the experiences of his older friends.  One of these older friends told him: “When I was twenty-one, life was a great adventure. Now everything is somehow so sedate. Of course at eighty-three, I don’t have quite the same urge for adventure as I did at twenty-one. 

"But when you think of it, growing old is an adventure! It’s something you’ve got to go at with, daring. You lose one thing after another and become more dependent and more stupid and all kinds of things, but still it should be an adventure”.
 
This is a book full of faith and full of wisdom. The author writes: “The best way to deal with the mess we may have made of our lives, or the difficult burdens we may carry, is to accept God’s grace as we face the future…   Instead of focusing on our regrets, we can choose to give thanks to God for the life we have lived”.   
 
This easy-to-read book will be an encouragement to many a senior citizen.

 
The Revd Dr Paul Beasley-Murray recently retired as Senior Minister of Chelmsford Baptist Church

Baptist Times, 25/04/2014
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