The Senior Paper has found a special place in my life. I call it “my recreational reading” and I’d love to tell you about it. I have been a reader most of my life, starting with Zane Grey – good stuff for a farm boy.
When I left the farm as a young man and went away to Bible School to prepare for Gospel ministry, I became an avid reader of books of another kind. It was a bit heavier now; theological books and notes, and of course, the Bible and commentaries, etc.
When I entered my first pastorate and had a congregation to care for, teach, and preach to – I soon learned this was serious business. It was not only important that I read a lot, study hard, and have something to say, it was imperative! So I have lived a life doing a lot of reading.
Since I’ve retired after 37-plus years in full-time ministry, I find I have more free time on my hands, and opportunity for a greater variety of reading. This is where The Senior Paper came in.
Stories took me back
Someone gave me a copy and I was hooked. I loved the stories that took me back to the days when I was young and growing up on the farm. Then, other stories that took me back farther, back to the days of the real pioneers.
I subscribed and began to do what others say they’ve done, watch for the new issue each month, then, read it all, front to back. I was delighted each time I found a story written by someone I knew! (Hi Dennis and Ralph at North Battleford! Also, Hi to Don in Regina – and my cousins, Ray, Gordon, and Frank.) I could mention more names.
Then, I submitted a few stories and the paper was kind enough to publish some of them, I began to hear from people who knew me! Phone calls and letters came in, including one that was kind of special to me.
Wouldn’t have known without it
I received a letter from Consort, Alta., from a man who told me I had taught him to play the guitar when he was a teen and I was a young pastor in that town. Actually, I don’t think I really “taught” him much, I just helped him get started. He did the rest himself. He went on to form his own travelling band, and even do some commercial recording. And they are still playing. I thought that was cool!
I probably would never had known, had it not been for this paper. Everyone needs some “recreational reading” and you just can’t beat The Senior Paper!
–Ben Kirkpatrick, Saskatoon, Sask.
Publisher’s Note: Hi Ben! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. It’s exciting to hear about when we help folks reconnect with old friends and family through the paper! Every subscriber is another potential ‘connection’ to our collective past and we try to encourage all subscribers to share their own great stories and precious memories.
We’re happy to send a free, no-strings-attached preview issue to any senior in Canada. Some folks will subscribe, some won’t, but each senior that reads The Senior Paper is a potential new ‘old connection’ to our past.
