Author: Ron Baker

So, I’ve hit 70 and the introspection continues! 

In my early years of life I was about understanding my world and finding my own identity in that world.  As a youth I was often quiet and I considered myself to be an introvert.  I’m not sure my confidence level was high but others around me expected me to be the out-front person for various friendships.

In my middle years, I studied the phenomenon of leadership and administration.  Some of those articles and exercises still stick in my mind.  A learned introvert can be effective (more than just efficient) in outreach and promotion.

Now, in an older stage of life I enjoy the extroverted activities and have created my own persona that is “me in public”.  I have had to come to terms with the reality that all people are many parts.  As a youth we were told to be transparent, to be real, to be authentic.  Which was translated as – you can only respond to life as a stereotype.  When you step outside that box you are being a phony.

Hate to break it to you – people are complex.  Responses to various situations will see another “side” of a person. 

Having said all this, I want to make something very clear.  There is another definition of authentic personhood.  Holiness is one term for that.  In living in holiness, one lives to the inner core of their being.  How that is exhibited may appear different in different situations – but always true to truth.

Our society seeks holiness starting from an inner self – a personal identity.  Justice in our society is thus based on many and varied, and often conflicting identities.  We have a hard time expecting justice (and actually seeing justice) with such a definition.  Wars and rumours of war (figuratively and really) abound.

The best fulfilment of justice (within a society) would be to start with an agreed upon standard – the common good, the ten commandments, the lowest common denominator.  Philosophers bring this forward with consistency.

To which I return to the Christian infrastructure as both a convincing avenue to pursue and a fulfilling life to live.

Today’s picture is a gravestone just off 41st and Main in Vancouver.  The area is now multicultural and the new graves demonstrate that perspective.  At one time, decades ago, the immigrants and local citizenry were also another racial grouping.  For all you Mennonites out there – I found a few gravesites with familiar last names.  This one gives a good sense of the persons behind the engravings.

Today is my birthday.  70 years in our North American calendar.  Entering my 71st year.  Seven decades past and more to go.

I have mentioned previously that I live in a decadal system.  Every ten years I transition into something new.  These last few months have proved to be such a ramp up time.  My input in social media and other connections has been limited.  Although I may scroll through (I prefer to not consider myself a troll since I do leave positive messaging every once in awhile) others thoughts, I haven’t really been revealing my own. 

Unless you are looking at connection points that have me under obligation (they actually pay me).  There I express direction and information that is designed for the purpose of that entity.  You can find me at such places as www.kindersleysocial.ca and www.cscmc.ca.  Or in reports prepared for Eston College library responsibilities.  Or in sermons for various churches in the area.

Today is, for the sake of the art of my life (artificially), being set aside as the beginning of a new covenant with myself and toward others.  I’m still working on what all goes into this new decade – publication, administration, entrepreneurial adventures, travel, . . .   But one thing can be said is that I continue to move from one level of faith to the next level of faith (knowing that what we believe and how we express that really hits at the core of our lives – showing our hope for the future and, for me personally, my love for this God shaped, Jesus infected, Holy Spirit revealed world).

A new perspective is always a good thing.

Take the B&B contract found in NUMBERS, chapters 22-24.  The book called Numbers is fascinating in itself.  But this story has been a literary gem over centuries – even millenia!

A consultant, know for their wisdom and sources, is asked by a fierce competitor/CEO to predict the outcome of a possible takeover.  Money doesn’t seem to be an object – and I suppose the fierceness of the CEO was a good reminder to do your best work.

The consultant checks the sources (well, actually the top/leading source only).  Each time the news is not good for the CEO.  The source not only predicts a strong victory for those arranging for the take over – there is even an additional “and they are going to do really well” thrown in.

Three times. 

The CEO gets mad and jumps up and down (well, probably did some not so nice “clapping” to get attention).  The consultant then says – “I’m out of here”.  And as a final gesture, tells the CEO what is going to happen to his company of people, what will happen to other rivals in the area, and what will happen to the takeover people.

Fun story – in the end the point is – don’t mess with the consultant who has the source!

A quote (from Carey Nieuwhof) attributed to Tim Keller, academic, activist and active Christian pastor:

“I would say that as a man who was 69 years old, I actually was pretty unfocused . . . but I was tending to do whatever anybody asked me to do… if I finally had one year left, two, three, four, five years—what should I be doing? I didn’t have that focus. Now I do.” (2021)

Pancreatic cancer was discovered in the beginning of the 2020’s.  He lived until earlier this year.  Unfocused?  He wrote, spoke and affected a generation of Christian leaders – myself included in that number. 

I’m 69!  Am I unfocused even though I have an interesting and extensive CV? 

Good question!