Learning from the Giants on Senior Citizens Day

Today is National Senior Citizens Day in the United States.  Thirty years ago today, President Ronald Reagan declared August 21 to be National Senior Citizens Day—celebrated one week after the anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt signing the Social Security Act in 1935.

When I think of Senior Citizens, I have long been impacted by their wisdom and life experiences.  As an elementary student, I remember forming relationships with senior citizens that my Dad and I picked up on Sunday mornings to go to church.  I even interviewed one of them for a personal biography project at school.

At work, I have sought out mentors with more life experience.  Today, some of them who have been retired for many years, still provide their advice and perspective for both work and life challenges.

So, today, I want to pause and give honor to Senior Citizens and reflect on some of the older leaders from the Bible.  To do that, I’ve summarized John Maxwell’s 2014 book, Learning from the Giants.

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Andrew Murray on Humility

Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you. - Andrew Murray

In my study of the Third Beatitude, “Blessed are the Meek, for they shall inherit the earth,” I ran across several references to Andrew Murray’s Humility—and many called it “life-changing”!  This month, I took the opportunity to read it.  It’s a series of meditations on the humility that draws heavily from the Bible.

God knew I needed this emphasis in August 2018.  I’m beginning to hit a stride at work as a leader of HR Executives at NASA, and later this month I’ll be honored with NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal—recognition for my service to the recently-retired Johnson Space Center Director, Dr. Ellen Ochoa.

Given this level of success, it would be easy to get “puffed up,” prideful, and self-reliant.  That’s why Jesus’ words are so powerful.  He points out that the “meek” inherit the earth—those who recognize that God is in control and that we need to empty ourselves, so He can fill us up.  So, my prayer today is, “Lord, may I learn the Humility that Andrew Murray describes.”

May these meditations serve you well, as you shoot for the stars!

Click here to see my summary of Andrew Murray’s 1895 classic on Humility