To everything there is
a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. God hath made
everything beautiful in His time. Ecclesiastes 3:1,11
Ninety-one years ago, God brought a baby boy into the world.
Through the first years of his life, little Reuben lived in ordinary
circumstances. Eventually he became a man and joined the Marines where he
served throughout World War II. After the war, he returned home, fell in loved,
chased his sweetheart (until she caught him), and was married. Sixty years of
marriage later…
The Young-at-Heart crowd is gathered at Camp Joy for the
seasonal retreat. A fire burns in the fireplace. Puzzles adorn the walls,
testimony of past retreats. Groups sit comfortably around the fireside room or
shuffle over to the beanbag boards. They are a friendly, pleasant crowd.
Among this crowd are Reuben and his sweet wife, Doris.
Wherever Rube is, there is a story to make you smile, a tale as TALL as Paul Bunyan.
But for Rube, the most exciting part of the story is always true. Love, war, friends,
ministry—all figure largely in Rube’s history of his era.
If anyone says that Rube talks too much, they have to
remember that he has over 90 years of life to tell about. The honor of publishing
his stories is well-earned. He has served his country. He has cherished his
wife. He has been generous toward others. He has loved his God.
Each of us have “many dangers, toils and snares” to go
through in our lives. As Ecclesiastes says, there is a season for everything. Many
of these young-at-heart folks could teach us a lesson of human tenacity and the
grace of God. From them, we learn that God truly makes everything beautiful in
His time.
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