What Was Empty is Full

by Georgia Jervey

There was a time in my life when I felt a call. I didn't hear heavenly voices or see a burning bush but I definitely felt God was leading me in a certain direction and at one point asking me to stand up and be counted.

I don't know how many times I may have missed God's call over the years but this time I tried hard to listen to that inner voice.

I've always attended church regularly and felt God was part of my everyday life. However, during those very busy younger years, when I was working hard trying to be a good wife, mother, daughter and part time employee, God sort of got short shrift.

I always knew he was with me but I was too busy or too tired to pay much attention. I went to church on Sunday, sang my praises and thanked God for all the blessings in my life. Then I asked him to please watch over my family during the coming week. That, plus a few short prayers at bed time, was the extent of my relationship with God.

Now almost forty years later, the marriage we worked at is still going strong. Our children are grown and out of the nest. As my life slowed down to a walk instead of a run, I had more time to listen and respond to that inner voice.

Sometime about the age of fifty, I had a sort of empty feeling. Like Peggy Lee's old song, "Is That All There Is?". But the voice inside said, "Don't you think it's time now to read my book?"

That was the beginning of Bible study for me. I was a beginner at age fifty. Of course I've read parts of the Bible before and every Sunday lessons from the Old and New Testament are read to us. I was familiar with the stories but I hadn't read the Bible from cover to cover. I had loads of excuses, one being, even the disciples couldn't understand all of Jesus' stories and they spoke his language and understood the religious and political climate of the time. What chance did I have, living in a very different world, trying to understand a book that had been translated. I needed help.

I didn't want to just read the Bible, I wanted to try and understand it too. When I was ready to learn, good teachers materialized. I found a couple of teachers who are quite knowledgeable about the Greek language and have been teaching Bible study classes for many years.

One of the hardest things for me was admitting I was a novice at the age of fifty. But that fact came in handy, when one day I felt God was asking me to stand up in church and try to interest others in Bible study. Our denomination is not noted for Bible study (or witnessing). I struggled with that call, like a fish on the end of a line. I kept trying to get away. But God's a great fisherman and when he hooks you, you're hooked! I gave in. I stood up in church and tried to do what I felt God was asking me to do.

I poked fun at my fear of starting Bible study at an advanced age. I told them the people in my class do laugh. They are not deadly serious all the time. The Bible stories were meant to be talked about and wrestled with. And a Bible class mixed with people of differing years of study is an interesting class to be in. Sometimes a beginner may ask the best questions.

There are now people in my Bible class who are older than I am, studying the Bible for the first time. Maybe I helped to make them feel comfortable being beginners at an advanced age. God's timing is not our timing. We don't all hear the call at the same time.

I've been working on my spiritual journey for a number of years now and the most interesting thing to me was my need to record it.

When I started to read the Bible I started to write. I share my stories with friends and now and then I find one in print. I never know what I might write or who I might help in some small way. I just share my love of God. I guess you could say, I'm a witness.

The empty place is full!

Georgia Beckley Jervey writes from New Providence NJ.