After twenty years as a lead pastor and an additional twenty years as a “pastor to pastors” as part of the ministry team at the district office, becoming a semi-retired minister has been a big adjustment. To prepare for this new season (as an adjunct college faculty member and interim pastor), I took a brief sabbatical to seek God, completed a doctor’s degree, and worked hard to get my personal finances in order.
While writing my personal growth plan, I discovered James N. Watkins’ book, If You’re Not Dead, You’re Not Done. The book is an easy read. The illustrations are humorous cartoons, and Watkins’ writing has a light-hearted tone. However, the book’s primary message is profoundly important: “If you wake up, God has something meaningful for you to do that day. If you’re not dead, you’re not done.”
Watkins encourages his readers to join “Agers Anonymous.” He suggests ten steps he believes are essential for becoming a “satisfied, significant, and saintly senior.” A section of the book is devoted to each of the ten steps, with 3-5 short chapters of encouraging content in each section:
- Acceptance of aches, pains, and all the other unmanageable consequences of aging
- Anticipation of a brighter future as we live fully in the present
- Courage to face each new day without fear
- Curiosity to keep exploring this amazing world and stay young by learning new things
- Faith, hope, and love from Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with God and others
- Forgiveness by making amends with anyone we have a grudge against or have called “an old goat”
- Gratitude for God’s love and care, replacing all our wrong attitudes toward aging
- Joy through asking God to swap our complaints with things that help us experience his joy
- Optimism by deliberately choosing positive thoughts based on God’s “good, pleasing and perfect will”
- Significance realized by being energized with God’s power and living out these ten steps daily
James Watkins’ goal is “to continue doing what he loves to do until at least his hundredth birthday.” If You’re Not Dead, You’re Not Done: Live With Purpose At Any Age is available on Amazon for less than ten dollars in paperback or Kindle e-book.