Nearing Home by Billy Graham
I got this book for free to review through booksneeze. It did not affect my review in any way. For more information on how I do reviews, check out my Disclosure Policy
I’ve always liked Billy Graham. He has an authenticity about him that I’ve always respected.
At 93, he’s not done sharing himself.
In Nearing Home, Graham writes honestly and openly about getting old. He’s regularly in pain, he’s lost his strength and his wife and closest friends have all passed away. He always thought he’d die around 50 and is shocked by the emotions and experiences he never thought he’d see.
Through it all, he sees a lot of good in growing older. Graham has learned there is “nothing new under the sun” and the elderly have priceless knowledge they can pass down to the younger generation. He sees retirement as an opportunity to expand God’s Kingdom without the restraints of a job – even, as for one woman, it means all you can do is pray.
He encourages his aged readers to continue striving towards God’s kingdom, to actively pursue the younger generations and impart wisdom to them.
It is a great book that I’ll be passing along to my grandmother when she moves into town. And at a mere 180 pages, I recommend it to anyone going up in years.
If I had to find something negative to say, it’s that a 25-year-old like me had some difficulty relating to a 93-year-old Graham. He talks about things I’ve never experienced and works through emotions I’ve never dealt with. But even with that limitation, reading this book guarantees I’m more prepared for growing older.
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Billy Graham is a truly amazing man of God. Thanks for the review. I have contemplated getting it from Booksneeze, but I think I will hold out on it.
adam recently posted..The Scroll by Grant R. Jeffery & Alton L. Gansky
That he is!
The title says it all doesn’t it? Death isn’t the end, just a profound change.
It always seems that so long as one is doing what one loves, they never grow old in mind or spirit. It’s a sentiment I’d like to think I have; when I reach the age of ‘retirement,’ I’d hope that means I am simply free to do what is truly meaningful to me.
From Billy’s book, it seems most people don’t have that sentiment. However, he is full of encouragement and good ideas for those reaching retirement age — and for those of us who hope to some day.
Thanks for the comment!
Our culture is kinda strange in that we revere youth. Old people seem a little kookie, strange, and second-class to us. That’s the exact opposite from many cultures around the globe. So I can see why getting old is a rather strange thing here in America.
I’ve heard Graham talk about this — how scripture says that old age is a blessing. But he has to deal with dependence on people to take care of him, pain, etc. I think this actually sounds like an interesting read!
Loren Pinilis recently posted..The Problem with Spiritual Gifts Tests
The most interesting part of the book for me is Graham’s discussion on how an older person should respond to the cultural norms. The tendency is to lock themselves up in their home and wait for death, while Graham encourages them to use this time to serve others, get out of their house and do the things they are still capable of in their old age.
You should check it out!
Thanks for the review…I’m definitely adding it to my reading list for 2012!
Benjer McVeigh recently posted..Video of the Week: Persecution in Eritrea
Awesome, Benjer!