Sure, it’s been a long journey. But I wouldn’t have wanted to miss it for anything. However, living for that length of time, in itself, isn’t all that significant. To have the strength to persevere, to tough it out at times, and simply coast at others, doesn’t mean all that much. To be worthwhile, there must be more.
“What are you rambling on about?”
I’m talking about a journey that, so far, has taken me 80 years of traveling time. For some reason, unbeknown to me, the Lord has seen fit to keep me around—in reasonably good health (given the possibilities)—for that length of time. To the chagrin of those who differ with me about counseling, I can still think and write and propagate what I believe is a truly biblical view. So, perhaps, that’s why yesterday I arrived at the 80 year old milepost.
One thing that I find interesting—it takes about 40 years (roughly a generation) for anything new to jell. God has graciously allowed me the opportunity to watch what He has been doing in biblical counseling since the 1960s when I began to understand what the Scriptures teach about it. That means I have had the privilege of seeing Nouthetic Counseling grow from a mere nothing to a movement now involving thousands of people. I’m grateful for that gift. While I haven’t been all that successful in many ways, the Lord has seen fit to use my feeble attempts to bless others; and for that I am thankful.
During these long years, since I was saved at the age of 15, I have tried to be faithful to His Word. I do not believe I have misused that sacred trust that has been deposited with us. I have endeavored to base all that I’ve done and taught upon it, consciously attempting to use Scripture according to its purposes, attempting never to bend it to mine. That, perhaps above all else, has been my earnest endeavor. It’s one thing to base what you are doing upon Scripture in some general sense; it’s another to base it upon how the Spirit intended for us to use the passage. My one question in interpreting any portion of the Bible has always been, “How did the Spirit, writing in this place through one of His servants, intend to change us?” I have decried those who use Scripture for their own purposes rather than for those purposes for which it was given. So, I have stressed finding the telos (or purpose) of every Book, portion, or verse. I hope I have succeeded in this endeavor.
My greatest hope is that God has been honored in all that has been accomplished, rather than any person. I have worked hard at not allowing fan clubs or groupies to develop. To do otherwise is to fail to to give the Lord His rightful place. While I am truly grateful for all of the letters of greeting that I received as the result of Donn’s surprise announcement of my birthday, I want you to give any honor due to God—not to me.
I must tell you that I was shocked to see a picture of me, taken a few years ago, wearing a tie! I’m not sure where he got it from. But so be it!
Yes, it’s been a long journey, but one for which I can be thankful for the Lord’s mercies to a sinner like me!