The New Eve - Lewis Robert [77]
Tracey waved her card again and said, “That's very doable and exciting. Thanks!”
All eyes now turned to Anne. Everyone half expected to see Anne reveal a perfectly blank card. After all, her acts of service were known to everyone in the church and the community, and her smile could cheer any soul. What could a godly woman like Anne be struggling with? Here was a New Eve if ever there was one.
“It's real simple for me,” said Anne. “On the whole I've had a good life so far. I'm satisfied that I made more good choices than bad ones, primarily because of God's Word and God's grace. My husband and children are doing well, and nothing makes me happier than that. But what now? What do I do with my life now that the kids are all gone? So here's my card.”
“When I was younger, I imagined fifty-six was ancient, the end of the road. You'd be nestled down in a rocking chair somewhere with yarn and knitting needles and wouldn't look up until they came for your body. But what I'm finding now is that fifty-six is young. I've got probably thirty years or so ahead of me! I'm not designed to just fold my cards and wait out my time. No one is. So my challenge is figuring out what I'm supposed to do with the rest of my life.”
“What sort of work did you do before marriage and kids?” asked Patricia.
“Catering. I helped cater weddings, birthdays, graduations … even the inauguration of Governor Jameson. I was the first assistant to Mrs. Carter at Carter Catering. It was a great experience.”
“That explains this,” Brenda said, motioning to the table laden with Anne's preparations. “You've got a real talent there, Anne.”
“Any thought of getting back into that?” Tracey asked. “Take the advice you just gave me?”
“Well, sure. I suppose I think of that some. It's a funny thing, though. Having spent the past twenty-nine years putting all my energies into my family, I've lost a little bit of the initiative for getting out there and doing my work for the public. I'm not sure how it's come to be this way, but new challenges are a little frightening to me now.”
“Start small,” Patricia said matter-of-factly. “Start small, get comfortable, then deepen your involvement as you get your legs under you.”
“Before long you'll be back doing inaugurations!” declared Susan. “And I'll bet I can get you to cater some of the conferences we do at work. You'd be a big hit, Anne.”
“They're right, Anne,” said Brenda. “It's time to relaunch and explore the new opportunities for you. And I have another idea. Instead of focusing on starting a new business, which I know you'd do great at, you could pour your energies into helping feed the needy. I know there are homeless shelters and other non-profits that would love to have you aboard. Think of the impact you could make!”
This set all the ladies to talking about the range of possibilities for Anne. Everyone agreed she had many great options to consider since she so obviously enjoyed serving others. Anne wrote as she listened and then flashed her card for all to see.
“It's a new day!” Anne declared with a smile. “And a great time to find a new purpose in life.”
Conclusion
As you can see from the previous stories, being a New Eve is not about a static, cookie-cutter, one-for-all lifestyle. It's about you being you! God's you. The best you. It's about leaps of faith, bold moves, and deep convictions that refuse to be swayed by the world. It's also about finding and securing the life you've always wanted, a good life without regrets.
Unfortunately, the first Eve came to believe that the best way to have that kind of life was by rejecting God, ignoring His command, and reaching for a glitzier something else. This became the tragic bold move that marked not only her life but also the lives of many millions of Eves since. The New Eve is a woman precisely as daring, except in the opposite way. Her distinction is in the