A fifth category among our
oldest generation is the Go-Go group. They have probably retired from their
careers. They find themselves with a lot more time if not a lot more money.
They have a wide variety of interests. They are in good health. They are the
ones you will hear say, “I have less free time now than when I was working full
time!”
They may take a nap in the
middle of the day, but they are looking for something to do when they awaken.
They play golf regularly, work out at the fitness center, or take walks either
early in the morning or late in the afternoon several times a week. They may
not be health nuts, but they know they need to be in good health to do what
they want to do.
This Go-Go crowd makes up
your senior volunteers at Habitat for Humanity home builds and repair projects.
You’ll find them on highway clean-up crews and volunteers with recycling
drives. They go flower and bird hunting with cameras. They are the leaders in
flower and garden clubs and at the forefront of community beautification
programs. When they are not home planting flowers, they are touring the United
States or the far reaches of the world.
In brief the Go-Go crowd is
on the go, they enjoy being on the go, and they wouldn’t be happy if they
weren’t on the go. So the question is, how do you make life richer for the
individual who is always on the go.
You give them a reason, a
purpose, an inner motivation that is bigger than they are. They realize their
on-the-go energy can make life better not just for themselves but others around
them and even for the generations to come. From the perspective of those who
are followers of Christ, it is a matter of doing something not for yourself,
but for an eternal cause that is greater than any human purpose.
When the Apostle Paul wrote
these words to the members of the Christian fellowship in Colossae, he was
seeking to convey the importance of purpose in our actions. We may do a lot,
but does it accomplish anything of value. Why we do something is of immense
importance.
Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it
with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for
people.
This verse was written in the
context of instructions to slaves. The slaves had to be obedient, but if they
kept their eyes on a greater motivation, then the quality of their work and
their attitude in the midst of it would be far better. By placing your efforts
in the hands of God, things have a greater chance of accomplishing their true
purpose.
The Go-Go will be in involved.
Where they will be involved is their choice, but being involved is simply a
result of their internal drive “to do”. As we seek to enrich the lives of these
people who find satisfaction in being involved, we must let them see a
motivation that will lead them to exceed the expectations of others and perhaps
even their own. It is a simple result of doing something for someone else. The
more we value that other person, the more fulfilling our work will be.
Do your service in the name
of the Lord. There is no one who has a greater claim on your life and all that
you are. Give him the quality of work his position in your life deserves. You
might think in terms of “good enough” for a human boss, but with Jesus “good
enough never is” to quote the founder of Mrs. Field’s Cookies.
Give the Go-Go member of your
group a divine purpose, a sense of motivation grounded in the person of God.
Then you will see a person who gives their very best all the time and finds
deep satisfaction in the process.
