RETIREMENT AND SOME WRITING
Billy Graham used to say that the word retirement was not in the Bible. Guess that's why he didn't preach his last sermon until he was 95 years old. Well, the Bible does speak about the Levites retiring. "At the age of fifty, they (Levites) must retire from their regular service and work no longer." Numbers 8:25.
The Levites principal roles in the Temple included singing Psalms during Temple services, performing construction and maintenance for the Temple, serving as guards and performing other Temple services. They also served as teachers and judges. In other words they worked for the Temple, somewhat comparable to the pastors of today. Wow! Imagine retiring at the age of 50. Well, I've already told you that I was three weeks shy of being 69 when I retired from Sevenoaks Alliance Church in Abbotsford, BC, but after retiring, I accepted some interim pastoral ministries and I was back to work.
In addition to the three churches where I served, since retiring from Sevenoaks, I've had a few other preaching appointments. I've also had some weddings, including my brother David and Bridget and my oldest grandson, Joshua and Kacie. I've sometimes said that "people are dying for my services," because as of today, I have been involved in 155 funerals / memorials since retiring.
However, my retired days have found me involved in another area, which I have found very relaxing and enjoyable. It has become a bit of a hobby. It is writing. I do not consider myself to be any kind of proven writer or author. Most of my writing was not planned. It was, as I just said, more of a hobby, which seemingly just happened. Over the years I've written some poetry. The first poem which I recall writing was when I was about eleven or twelve years of age. I wrote a poem entitled "There'll Always Be Some Bread And Jam." You could sing it to the tune "There'll Always Be An England." My poem, such as it was, was written during World War II. Mom probably had the only copy of that poem tucked away some where, but it was never found.
However, my retired days have found me involved in another area, which I have found very relaxing and enjoyable. It has become a bit of a hobby. It is writing. I do not consider myself to be any kind of proven writer or author. Most of my writing was not planned. It was, as I just said, more of a hobby, which seemingly just happened. Over the years I've written some poetry. The first poem which I recall writing was when I was about eleven or twelve years of age. I wrote a poem entitled "There'll Always Be Some Bread And Jam." You could sing it to the tune "There'll Always Be An England." My poem, such as it was, was written during World War II. Mom probably had the only copy of that poem tucked away some where, but it was never found.
Since retiring I've written more poems, some of them are about Leona, our children, grandchildren, growing old, plus some with a more spiritual tone. I submitted a couple of poems to two different papers and they published the same. I've also written three articles which were published in magazines. Thus far I've had a pretty good batting average. To date, every poem or article that I've ever submitted to a magazine or paper, has been published. It is not a money making hobby, at least not for me. It is simply for the enjoyment of doing the same. I've been paid once. That was a check for $57.00, which was totally unexpected and came from one of the magazines.
In the eighteen years since I retired from Sevenoaks Alliance Church, I have written three books, two of them published professionally. The first one was a combined effort with Leona. Soon after retiring, I decided to start putting some thoughts on the computer re my life's story. I discovered that my wife had the same idea. It ultimately became OUR story as we put the two stories together. The 132 page letter size book, with many pictures included, was finally completed and several copies were photocopied at an office supply place with many of them being given to family members for Christmas 2006. The title has a little bit of history behind it. When I was a pre-schooler my Aunt Gladys was preparing some food which included corn syrup. I slipped my thumb in the syrup. When I told my parents, this is what it sounded like, I Slicked My Slumb In Glady's Slurrup. Well that became the title of the book, the subtitle being Our Life's Journey - Dan & Leona Goldsmith.
Not long after we had this story of our lives printed, I was visiting a member of Sevenoaks Alliance Church in the old MSA Hospital in Abbotsford. I felt that I should purchase a little book of humor or something that would brighten his day. When I began to look for such, I was disappointed to learn that even some of the so-called Christian books of humor had the odd suggestive and sacrilegious bit of humor. So I decided to save some clean jokes and humorous tidbits which I heard or read. Eventually I had several pages of some lighter reading material and had 50 copies photocopied. Since it was close to Christmas 2009, I once again gave copies to family members as a Christmas present. Once my brother David had read this accumulation of humor, he suggested that I have it professionally published. Really? Was it that good?
Well, with his encouragement I began to edit the material and make it more presentable for publication. By September 2010 it was a reality and I purchased my first shipment of 250 books. Before the first year had rolled around, I learned that there were copies of this book on five continents and quite a few Canadian provinces and USA states. It is available from several online suppliers, including Amazon. It is also available as an eBook. Since I have a supply of both books on hand, I receive requests for the same from time to time. Just this morning, I had such a request and a lady walked away with five copies of Jokes, Quotes & Anecdotes for some of her clients, three of them already spoken for.
Dan selling his first book at PBI's Homecoming 2012
So I started writing a page for each day of the year. Once I had written a couple dozen pages, I figured I should have some purpose for this book. It was then that I decided to make it a type of devotional book. Jump Start Your Day - With A Smile, Story, Scripture & Saying was published in 2015. Each day's reading begins with a bit of humor, followed by a devotional thought, a bible verse and a one-liner. It too is available from the likes of Amazon and also as an eBook.
On the back cover of this second book the last two sentences are: "Jump Start Your Day is his second book, and he says the last one. He is going to retire again." I thought that was the end, but almost two years ago, when my grandson Zachary asked if I would share my pastoral journey with him, well, as you know by now, it resulted in this blog. It hasn't happened yet, but hopefully I will have this blog printed. I guess you could say "that's another book, that wasn't planned."
In the eighteen years since I retired from Sevenoaks Alliance Church, I have written three books, two of them published professionally. The first one was a combined effort with Leona. Soon after retiring, I decided to start putting some thoughts on the computer re my life's story. I discovered that my wife had the same idea. It ultimately became OUR story as we put the two stories together. The 132 page letter size book, with many pictures included, was finally completed and several copies were photocopied at an office supply place with many of them being given to family members for Christmas 2006. The title has a little bit of history behind it. When I was a pre-schooler my Aunt Gladys was preparing some food which included corn syrup. I slipped my thumb in the syrup. When I told my parents, this is what it sounded like, I Slicked My Slumb In Glady's Slurrup. Well that became the title of the book, the subtitle being Our Life's Journey - Dan & Leona Goldsmith.
Not long after we had this story of our lives printed, I was visiting a member of Sevenoaks Alliance Church in the old MSA Hospital in Abbotsford. I felt that I should purchase a little book of humor or something that would brighten his day. When I began to look for such, I was disappointed to learn that even some of the so-called Christian books of humor had the odd suggestive and sacrilegious bit of humor. So I decided to save some clean jokes and humorous tidbits which I heard or read. Eventually I had several pages of some lighter reading material and had 50 copies photocopied. Since it was close to Christmas 2009, I once again gave copies to family members as a Christmas present. Once my brother David had read this accumulation of humor, he suggested that I have it professionally published. Really? Was it that good?
Well, with his encouragement I began to edit the material and make it more presentable for publication. By September 2010 it was a reality and I purchased my first shipment of 250 books. Before the first year had rolled around, I learned that there were copies of this book on five continents and quite a few Canadian provinces and USA states. It is available from several online suppliers, including Amazon. It is also available as an eBook. Since I have a supply of both books on hand, I receive requests for the same from time to time. Just this morning, I had such a request and a lady walked away with five copies of Jokes, Quotes & Anecdotes for some of her clients, three of them already spoken for.
I thought that was the end of my book writing. However, within weeks I started receiving more humorous jokes and trivia all with the same comment, "for your next book!" I hadn't planned the first book let alone writing a second book. One friend in Alberta sent a whole packet of humorous stuff to me. Eventually I started pondering what family and friends were saying. Since several people had said they read a page or two a day, one couple saying that they read a page when they had devotions together, I finally settled in my mind that I would attempt another book. I should add that one lady told me that she read a couple of pages before going to bed and said she slept better. It worked for her. I offer no guarantee that it will work for you.
So I started writing a page for each day of the year. Once I had written a couple dozen pages, I figured I should have some purpose for this book. It was then that I decided to make it a type of devotional book. Jump Start Your Day - With A Smile, Story, Scripture & Saying was published in 2015. Each day's reading begins with a bit of humor, followed by a devotional thought, a bible verse and a one-liner. It too is available from the likes of Amazon and also as an eBook.
On the back cover of this second book the last two sentences are: "Jump Start Your Day is his second book, and he says the last one. He is going to retire again." I thought that was the end, but almost two years ago, when my grandson Zachary asked if I would share my pastoral journey with him, well, as you know by now, it resulted in this blog. It hasn't happened yet, but hopefully I will have this blog printed. I guess you could say "that's another book, that wasn't planned."
Writing has been a fun thing for me, in my retirement. So I trust that you, who are reading this, are a forgiving bunch and overlook any mistakes, or anything that sounds like I'm bragging. I've simply been telling the story of my spiritual and pastoral journey, with the ups and downs, the good times and bad, my accomplishments and my failures. Everything that I have written has been from memory. I have not kept a diary, as much as I wish now that I had done so. If any of you have a different version of anything that I have said, you may be right. I have written what I believe is true, as I have recalled the same.
I just remembered. I also wrote two gospel tracts. Several friends have used them and given them away. I've heard of one person that prayed to receive Christ through reading one of my tracts. The first one that I wrote was How To Get To Heaven From British Columbia. Last Christmas, Leona asked if I would write a Christmas tract that she could give to a friend. I entitled that one The Season Is Christmas. Inside I mentioned that the season is Christmas, but that the reason is Christ. I also heard, a few months ago, about a lady who received Christ as her Saviour as a result of reading my devotional book, Jump Start Your Day.
I just remembered. I also wrote two gospel tracts. Several friends have used them and given them away. I've heard of one person that prayed to receive Christ through reading one of my tracts. The first one that I wrote was How To Get To Heaven From British Columbia. Last Christmas, Leona asked if I would write a Christmas tract that she could give to a friend. I entitled that one The Season Is Christmas. Inside I mentioned that the season is Christmas, but that the reason is Christ. I also heard, a few months ago, about a lady who received Christ as her Saviour as a result of reading my devotional book, Jump Start Your Day.
If this sounds like the last posting for this blog, it is not. There are a few more closing thoughts, still to come. I'll wrap up this blog soon, but a few more thoughts are whirling around in my head that I want to include in my final posts.
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