Scripture: John 17:1-5
Some of you may remember, when you were growing up in the church attending Sunday school, to learn of a piece of biblical trivia (I have a problem saying that, because we know there's nothing trivial in the Bible). However, the question is often asked who was the oldest person ever lived. This is what it says in Genesis 5:27, "The days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years and he died...." That's it! That's all! We are not told about what he did with all those years.
In New Testament times, long life was considered a real blessing, largely because it was so rare. If Jesus died at the age of 33, he actually had lived six years beyond the average life span in the Roman Empire of his day — which was 27. We live, of course, much longer nowadays. But, the principle questions remains with us — What are we doing with the years that we have, the additional years that we are given.
Today we remember with affection and thanksgiving, Anne, a friend, who lived a long life and who managed well the daunting challenge of aging. A few thoughts on aging may therefore be in order, since it is something that happens to all of us. At the boringly predictable rate of 24 hours a day — the question is: What are the hallmarks of a Christian way of aging?
For one thing, as Christians, we can afford to be realistic about the fact of aging. Jesus never dealt with people in stereotypes such as young or old. Jesus always dealt with people as persons, as unique individuals. Faith in him can help us to accept maybe even the balding of our heads or the hardening of our arteries, because he is able to give us power at any age to make the best of our God-given resources for that age.
Life doesn't begin at 40, in fact, life doesn't begin at 65, either. Life begins when we actually enter into a relationship with the living God. We know then with him, we can face the facts of aging and deal with them, one by one with courage and hope. I mentioned earlier that Anne was a faithful member of Heritage for over 40 years, an ordained Deaconess, sang in the choir for some 25 years, always active. That was her way of serving the Lord — serving God's people. And she was always faithful with her family. Giving beyond measure and caring. Anne aged well.
Another hallmark of a Christian way of aging is skill in giving. If we have learned to give not only the lesser gifts of money and things, but the greater, more involving gifts of time, understanding and love — the agape type — that we learn from the New Testament. The self-giving kind of love that Anne demonstrated to so many of us. Then we shall never be put on the shelf, nor shall the death of loved ones and friends leave us wholly crushed because, to our dying days, we shall be able to make new friends. That will never stop. Our old age may not be productive in all the ways that we like, but it can be productive of relationships painted in fadeless color on the canvas of eternity.
Up until she was incapacitated because of her failing health, Anne was always active. I still remember her as I said earlier, being in church every Sunday with her family and being at the circle with ladies at Bible study. I would visit her, sometimes with Dorothy Porter, an Elder, to serve her communion. She would always be grateful. And one thing she was always concerned about was asking about other people. That was her way of giving, even though she may not be able to come to church, to be a regular part of this fellowshipping here, physically. But, her mind was with other people.
But a Christian way of aging still has another hallmark. Skill in giving is just one side of a coin. The other side is grace in receiving. We all know that Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," but he didn't mean that to receive is not also blessed. As we grow older, our physical dependence on others will be greater. Will our Christian faith hold up at the receiving end of life? We all know that some older folk is a terror to care for and maybe even a chore to visit. Are we going to be like them? Good givers in our time, perhaps, but poor receivers.
We know Anne was not like that at all. She was always very gracious, very grateful. I remember being with her sometimes in her more lucid moments how she would be so grateful for her family, for her children in particular how they took care of her. And she loved her grandsons, of course, and always mentioned them. But, she was always thankful. Anne was like a man that I once knew, a man who was confined to his bed for nearly ten years before his death. But at his funeral, his last nurse told me, with tears in her eyes: "Every time you brought him a glass of water, he made you feel like it was champagne." That is the grace of receiving
One of the passages that Anne had highlighted in her Bible that was read in her own father's funeral was from 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 —
1For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling — 3if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. 4For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord — 7(for we walk by faith, not by sight.) 8Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
On many an occasion, Anne would say, "I don't know why God keeps me here. I am ready to go. I don't want to be a burden to my family." I think behind that it was really more than that — it's her way of saying, "I am ready to be with God — to be in his presence forever." Even last Friday, when I had the opportunity to see her again she mentioned the same thing. And I am glad that in a way her wishes are now fulfilled.
In the 17th chapter of John's gospel, Jesus talked to his disciples about his power to give eternal life and he makes the amazing statement, "And this is eternal life...." Not, in the future, but in the present tense — this is eternal life — to know him, to trust him, to serve him! To live as Christ's women and men is to have eternal life right here, right now: the kind of life, the quality of life, that makes the transition into our new and glorious life with the risen Lord a mere change of scene.
Another passage that Anne had underlined in her own Bible was from 2 Timothy 4:6-8 —
6As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Methuselah lived "nine hundred and sixty-nine years and he died." A life long on quantity, but short on quality. Jesus of Nazareth, lived 33 years he also died — but the quality of his life upset the course of nature. He rose — the quality of his life remolded history. To this day we count our years from his arrival in our midst. And his triumphant life can indeed help us — you and me — to start our eternal life. Today.
Anne lived to be just less than a month shy of her 90th birthday. She lived a good and full life. She blessed many people. And may she rest in God's peace.
Let us pray:
O God our Lord, before whom generations rise and pass away, we do praise you for all your servants who having lived this life in faith now live eternally with you. Especially this morning we thank you for your servant, Anne, whose baptism is now complete in death. We praise you for the gift of her life, for all that was good and kind and faithful, for the grace you gave her that kindled in her the love of your dear name and enabled her to serve faithfully all her life. And we thank you that for her death is passed and pain ended and that she has now entered the joy you have prepared, through Jesus Christ our Lord, and in his name we pray. Amen.
Anne H. Frye was born in Altoona, PA, on September 20, 1914. She graduated from high school in 1932 during the depression and then attended Business School in Altoona. She was also trained to serve as a Red Cross Nurses Aid during World War II.
Anne worked as a stenographer in the Soil Conservation Service for ten years where she met her husband, Clare, in 1937, who was emploved as Chief Engineer. They were married on February 3, 1944, in the "Little Church Around the Corner" in New York City. Her husband served in the United States Navy and achieved the rank of Captain. They traveled many places over the years, including Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jericho, which they visited Christmas week in 1951. They were stationed in several places in the United States and in Turkey where their son, John, was born. While stationed in Florida, their daughter, Kathy, was born and then they settled in Alexandria, VA, in 1962.
Anne was always very active in church life, including serving as an ordained deaconess, Sunday school teacher and Superintendent of summer Vacation Bible School. She said no matter what city she lived in, she always found a Presbyterian church she liked.
Anne was a member of Heritage since 1962 when it started at Waynewood School and had been a faithful member ever since. She sang in the choir for 25 years and was very active in the Women's organizations, hosting many meetings in her home. She was also a faithful participant in Sunday school for many years.
Anne loved to travel and took several enjoyable trips with her sister, Margie, and daughter to Germany Scandinavia and Nova Scotia.
Anne loved her family dearly, especially her children and grandchildren, Alex and Matthew, who brought her great joy. She was a very devoted and involved mother and grandmother, always a great source of support and encouragement. She will be missed very much.
Anne also loved her country and was very patriotic. You could always count on her to wear her red, white and blue on the Fourth of July! She was a very religious person who knew her Bible and loved God. She lived a long and happy life for which she was very grateful but in the end she was ready to meet the Lord in heaven knowing we would all be together again one day.
I am Nancy Lucas and Anne Frye is my one and only aunt. My sisters and I have always called her, Auntie Anne. Auntie Anne and my mother, Margie were very close sisters. They were 2 years apart in age. They never lived in the same city or state, and so they wrote to each other every week. Every summer when we were growing up, Auntie Anne, Kathy and John and my Mother and my sisters, Anne and Betsy and I, had a week or 2 together in Altoona, Pennsylvania with our grandparents. What wonderful memories we have!
Auntie Anne and I have many of the same traits. We both wanted to be nurses. Auntie Anne was accepted at Bryn Mar Hospital in Philadelphia but her parents wanted her to go to training in Altoona and she said, she was stubborn and wanted the big time in Philadelphia and so she didn´t go to training. I never went to Nurses training either but I have been a caregiver since 1988.
Auntie Anne, and my mother and I all went to Zeth Business School in Altoona to become secretaries right out of high school.
My aunt filled out a 102 questionaire for my niece, Kate for a school project in 1995. Kathy found it on Wednesday and it was wonderful to read it. Auntie Anne said a lot has happened in her lifetime of 81 years. Remembering when you would run outside and look to the sky when you heard an airplane, no radio until she was 7 or 10, a TV set in 1954 when she was 40, and she thought it was a real miracle, and then got a party line telephone! We take so much for granted today.
My aunt loved her children, John and Kathy so very much! She was also blessed with 2 wonderful grandsons, Alexander and Matthew. She was always there for them, and they were always there for her. Uncle Clare passed away in 1971 and Auntie Anne became a widow at 57 when Kathy was only 16 and John 19.
Kathy took such wonderful care of her Mother! She took her Mom to all Dr. appointments, spent many hours with her when she was in the hospital, organized home care for her Mom, cooked special meals for her, showed her sons how much she loved and respected her Mother, filled her pill boxes each week and was a constant encourager for her!
John lived with his Mom all of his life except for the 4 years that he was in the Marines. John has always kept their yard so well manicured, and always planted beautiful flowers and tomato plants for his Mom. When his Dad passed away when he was 19, he became the man of the house.
Auntie Anne would have been 90 on September 20. My plan had been to come down from the 17th until the 22nd to celebrate with her. After talking to Kathy during the 3 weeks Auntie Anne was in the hospital, I changed my plans. I am sure that God was speaking to my heart. I drove down last Friday, the 20th of August, and was blessed to take care of my aunt and have some very special time with her for 3 days until she slept away at 8:15 on Monday night, the 23rd.
Heaven got a little brighter on Monday night when Auntie Anne got there. I could just hear my Mom say, "Hon, what took you so long?" They had a lot of catching up to do.
Although our hearts are heavy today, we are here to celebrate her wonderful life. She was ready to leave this earthly life and meet her Lord in heaven. Her prayers were answered in God´s perfect timing!
Nancy Lucas
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