1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:06,431 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. Hello, friends. 9 00:01:06,471 --> 00:01:09,030 Speaker 1: Welcome to Story Behind Podcast. This is the show for 10 00:01:09,051 --> 00:01:11,981 Speaker 1: people who love hearing a good story and who believe 11 00:01:12,001 --> 00:01:13,121 Speaker 1: the world could use more positivity. 12 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,401 Speaker 2: We're the team behind God Updates and GodTube, and we 13 00:01:34,441 --> 00:01:37,221 Speaker 2: hope these weekly short stories will brighten your day. 14 00:01:42,531 --> 00:01:46,090 Speaker 3: Welcome back, friends and loyal listeners, and welcome to anyone 15 00:01:46,131 --> 00:01:49,951 Speaker 3: who is a first-timer who just wants to be encouraged 16 00:01:50,071 --> 00:01:53,991 Speaker 3: to the Story Behind podcast. We are brought to you 17 00:01:54,031 --> 00:01:58,201 Speaker 3: by GodTube.com and our God Updates section, where you can 18 00:01:58,301 --> 00:02:02,611 Speaker 3: find us on gottube.com slash blog, where you can watch 19 00:02:02,671 --> 00:02:05,831 Speaker 3: without worry. Every one of our encouraging stories on The 20 00:02:05,871 --> 00:02:08,851 Speaker 3: Story Behind starts with a video that our team has 21 00:02:09,331 --> 00:02:12,770 Speaker 3: found on the web behind all the bad news and 22 00:02:12,851 --> 00:02:15,871 Speaker 3: anything else that might be a downer. But we want 23 00:02:15,911 --> 00:02:17,591 Speaker 3: to bring these stories to you, and I want to 24 00:02:17,631 --> 00:02:19,491 Speaker 3: bring them to you as fresh as I can. So 25 00:02:19,550 --> 00:02:22,291 Speaker 3: our team has found these, but sometimes I read them 26 00:02:22,351 --> 00:02:25,671 Speaker 3: to you as a new experience in my own life 27 00:02:25,870 --> 00:02:28,631 Speaker 3: and world. My name is Sean McEvoy. I'm the executive 28 00:02:28,671 --> 00:02:32,961 Speaker 3: director of content here at the Salem Web Network. And 29 00:02:32,971 --> 00:02:37,180 Speaker 3: today I have brought to you two stories about folks 30 00:02:37,261 --> 00:02:41,541 Speaker 3: who might be considered older, but are still having fun, 31 00:02:41,701 --> 00:02:46,030 Speaker 3: showing that God's purpose continues into their gray hairs, which 32 00:02:46,101 --> 00:02:47,891 Speaker 3: is good news for me as I'm getting a little 33 00:02:47,931 --> 00:02:50,951 Speaker 3: farther up there myself. I'll be right back with those 34 00:02:50,990 --> 00:03:01,941 Speaker 3: stories for you after this. All right, we're going to 35 00:03:01,961 --> 00:03:06,391 Speaker 3: get started with this week's Ode to Senior Citizens with 36 00:03:06,411 --> 00:03:12,051 Speaker 3: a story by Michaela Gordonei titled, 84-Year-Old Train Manager Proves 37 00:03:12,091 --> 00:03:16,231 Speaker 3: You're Never Too Old to Love What You Do. An 38 00:03:16,251 --> 00:03:19,781 Speaker 3: 84-year-old train manager in the UK has never quit doing 39 00:03:19,821 --> 00:03:24,021 Speaker 3: what he loves. Bob Carpenter is one of London's oldest 40 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,981 Speaker 3: train managers. His interest was sparked when a British rail 41 00:03:28,041 --> 00:03:31,471 Speaker 3: representative came to his school. and he's had a strong 42 00:03:31,511 --> 00:03:35,041 Speaker 3: passion for the rails ever since. I've loved the railway 43 00:03:35,111 --> 00:03:37,601 Speaker 3: since I was a kid. Growing up close to the 44 00:03:37,641 --> 00:03:41,061 Speaker 3: main line between London Bridge and Brighton, I was sort 45 00:03:41,081 --> 00:03:44,861 Speaker 3: of born into the sounds of trains, Bob says. For 46 00:03:44,901 --> 00:03:48,621 Speaker 3: two decades, he worked in clerical roles for the Royal Mail. 47 00:03:49,201 --> 00:03:53,191 Speaker 3: Then he became a catering staff member for British Railways. Later, 48 00:03:53,771 --> 00:03:57,011 Speaker 3: he achieved his childhood dream and became a train manager 49 00:03:57,071 --> 00:04:00,961 Speaker 3: for Avanti West Coast, like his granddad. He never wanted 50 00:04:01,001 --> 00:04:04,261 Speaker 3: to retire. His work is the reason why he gets 51 00:04:04,341 --> 00:04:07,521 Speaker 3: up in the morning. Looking back, some of my fondest 52 00:04:07,581 --> 00:04:10,821 Speaker 3: memories are of the Grand National Specials. We used to 53 00:04:10,881 --> 00:04:14,561 Speaker 3: run in the 90s with volunteer crews, he further explained. 54 00:04:15,281 --> 00:04:17,601 Speaker 3: From the moment I left Houston to the moment I 55 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,541 Speaker 3: got to Lyme Street and back again, I just never 56 00:04:20,621 --> 00:04:24,041 Speaker 3: stopped laughing. As a man of my age at the time, 57 00:04:24,281 --> 00:04:27,771 Speaker 3: I don't know whether it's working with younger people but 58 00:04:27,811 --> 00:04:31,171 Speaker 3: it was the greatest fun I've had in years. Bob's 59 00:04:31,231 --> 00:04:34,281 Speaker 3: father loved the rails, and so does his grandson, Nick, 60 00:04:34,321 --> 00:04:38,820 Speaker 3: who is also a train manager. Avanti West Coast's customer 61 00:04:38,861 --> 00:04:42,761 Speaker 3: service manager, Catherine O'Brien, calls Bob and Nick part of 62 00:04:42,801 --> 00:04:46,821 Speaker 3: the company's family. It was inevitable to be honest with 63 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,411 Speaker 3: my granddad being such a good role model, Nick said. 64 00:04:50,211 --> 00:04:52,630 Speaker 3: As a child, I'd go to his house with my brothers, 65 00:04:52,691 --> 00:04:55,091 Speaker 3: and he'd turn up in his uniform at 9 p.m. 66 00:04:55,130 --> 00:04:57,671 Speaker 3: and tell us I've been to Scotland and back in 67 00:04:57,711 --> 00:05:01,811 Speaker 3: a day. That, for me, was magic. When Nick was 68 00:05:01,851 --> 00:05:05,311 Speaker 3: a boy, Bob bought him a toy whistle. He kept 69 00:05:05,391 --> 00:05:08,700 Speaker 3: it safe and treasured for many years, and now Nick 70 00:05:08,851 --> 00:05:12,111 Speaker 3: uses it as his whistle for work. His first day 71 00:05:12,161 --> 00:05:15,001 Speaker 3: on the job at Avanti West Coast was working with 72 00:05:15,061 --> 00:05:19,820 Speaker 3: his grandfather as his guard. Then and now, his granddad 73 00:05:19,841 --> 00:05:23,221 Speaker 3: has always kept up with the busyness and demanding nature 74 00:05:23,261 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 3: of the role. While some older folks choose to stay 75 00:05:26,821 --> 00:05:30,460 Speaker 3: in retirement homes, Bob gets up every morning and does 76 00:05:30,940 --> 00:05:34,341 Speaker 3: what he loves. He's an inspiration to never give up 77 00:05:34,940 --> 00:05:37,481 Speaker 3: on your dreams. You know, it makes me think of 78 00:05:38,001 --> 00:05:41,721 Speaker 3: what Paul writes in Philippians 2, 13 through 16. For 79 00:05:41,761 --> 00:05:44,181 Speaker 3: it is God who works in you to will and 80 00:05:44,221 --> 00:05:47,601 Speaker 3: to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. So 81 00:05:47,651 --> 00:05:51,330 Speaker 3: do everything without grumbling or arguing so that you may 82 00:05:51,391 --> 00:05:55,061 Speaker 3: become blameless and pure. Children of God without fault in 83 00:05:55,101 --> 00:05:58,381 Speaker 3: a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among 84 00:05:58,421 --> 00:06:01,451 Speaker 3: them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly 85 00:06:02,031 --> 00:06:04,671 Speaker 3: to the word of life. What a legacy for all 86 00:06:04,690 --> 00:06:06,770 Speaker 3: of us. I'll be right back with our second story 87 00:06:06,791 --> 00:06:23,111 Speaker 3: in just a moment. And welcome back to our tribute 88 00:06:23,130 --> 00:06:27,020 Speaker 3: to seniors on this episode of The Story Behind. I've 89 00:06:27,061 --> 00:06:29,261 Speaker 3: saved the best for last this week. You've really got 90 00:06:29,341 --> 00:06:33,041 Speaker 3: to join us over at gottube.com slash blog to look 91 00:06:33,121 --> 00:06:37,141 Speaker 3: up the video that accompanies this story by Heather Riggleman. 92 00:06:37,921 --> 00:06:42,241 Speaker 3: Seniors in Tennessee had a fun day on the slip 93 00:06:42,291 --> 00:06:46,551 Speaker 3: and slide, one they will never forget. Who says summer 94 00:06:46,611 --> 00:06:52,331 Speaker 3: fun has an age limit? not the smiling seniors in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 95 00:06:52,991 --> 00:06:56,231 Speaker 3: who traded rocking chairs for inner tubes and spent the 96 00:06:56,251 --> 00:07:00,291 Speaker 3: day racing down a giant slip and slide with plenty 97 00:07:00,311 --> 00:07:04,671 Speaker 3: of laughter, cheering, and helping hands along the way. Honestly, 98 00:07:04,701 --> 00:07:08,781 Speaker 3: Heather writes, I couldn't stop smiling while watching it. This 99 00:07:09,001 --> 00:07:13,561 Speaker 3: annual event, hosted by Senior Helpers and Adams Place, has 100 00:07:13,601 --> 00:07:18,491 Speaker 3: been delighting residents since 2021. Better known as the Ride 101 00:07:18,531 --> 00:07:22,271 Speaker 3: and Slide, the experience lets older adults enjoy the fun 102 00:07:22,431 --> 00:07:26,101 Speaker 3: of a water slide while safely riding in large inflatable 103 00:07:26,161 --> 00:07:31,921 Speaker 3: tubes with Caribbean music, fun palm trees, and more. Making 104 00:07:31,961 --> 00:07:34,721 Speaker 3: the day possible was an entire community that showed up 105 00:07:34,781 --> 00:07:39,671 Speaker 3: to serve. The Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department kept the slides 106 00:07:39,811 --> 00:07:43,871 Speaker 3: soaked and helped residents safely onto and off the tubes. 107 00:07:44,531 --> 00:07:48,231 Speaker 3: Members of the Middle Tennessee State University football team used 108 00:07:48,311 --> 00:07:52,771 Speaker 3: their strength to lift and encourage participants, while local cheerleaders 109 00:07:53,011 --> 00:07:57,911 Speaker 3: lined the course, clapping, celebrating, and cheering every ride as 110 00:07:57,991 --> 00:08:01,041 Speaker 3: if it were the championship game. Some of the seniors 111 00:08:01,121 --> 00:08:05,781 Speaker 3: participated from wheelchairs, proving the joy doesn't retire just because 112 00:08:06,121 --> 00:08:09,881 Speaker 3: our bodies change. With volunteers surrounding them every step of 113 00:08:09,901 --> 00:08:13,621 Speaker 3: the way, they laughed, squealed, and soaked up every moment. 114 00:08:14,501 --> 00:08:17,281 Speaker 3: It was like watching the elderly residents return to their 115 00:08:17,361 --> 00:08:21,411 Speaker 3: childhood in so many ways. I've done it four times, 116 00:08:22,121 --> 00:08:26,051 Speaker 3: one delighted participant said after another ride down the slide. 117 00:08:26,571 --> 00:08:29,431 Speaker 3: For the volunteers, the day was just as meaningful. It's 118 00:08:29,471 --> 00:08:32,570 Speaker 3: a blessing just to make people's day, make them happy, 119 00:08:33,191 --> 00:08:36,211 Speaker 3: one helper shared. Maybe that's the sweetest reminder of all. 120 00:08:36,790 --> 00:08:39,611 Speaker 3: Sometimes loving your neighbor looks like holding on to an 121 00:08:39,651 --> 00:08:43,331 Speaker 3: inner tube or offering a steady arm or cheering someone 122 00:08:43,431 --> 00:08:47,121 Speaker 3: on with all you've got And sometimes staying young has 123 00:08:47,181 --> 00:08:49,561 Speaker 3: so much less to do with your age than your 124 00:08:49,621 --> 00:08:53,581 Speaker 3: willingness to laugh, play, and embrace the people around you. 125 00:08:54,201 --> 00:08:57,321 Speaker 3: If you ask me, any community needs a day like this. 126 00:08:58,351 --> 00:09:02,930 Speaker 3: As it says in Proverbs 17, 22, cheerful heart is 127 00:09:03,071 --> 00:09:06,491 Speaker 3: good medicine. These stories have been good medicine to my 128 00:09:06,530 --> 00:09:10,731 Speaker 3: heart today, especially as I'm getting a little older. Let 129 00:09:10,791 --> 00:09:14,201 Speaker 3: us all remember to treasure the wisdom of our older 130 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,521 Speaker 3: relatives and those around us to check in on needs 131 00:09:18,311 --> 00:09:22,391 Speaker 3: and to remember to encourage people at whatever age to 132 00:09:22,511 --> 00:09:27,331 Speaker 3: seek joy and laughter and community. It's been a pleasure 133 00:09:27,351 --> 00:09:29,251 Speaker 3: being with you this week. I'll be back in a 134 00:09:29,291 --> 00:09:32,971 Speaker 3: couple days with two more encouraging stories on The Story Behind. 135 00:09:42,641 --> 00:09:45,841 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for listening to Story Behind Podcast. 136 00:09:46,361 --> 00:09:48,571 Speaker 2: We're really glad you joined us for this week's story. 137 00:09:49,431 --> 00:09:51,810 Speaker 2: To see photos and videos that may have been referenced 138 00:09:51,851 --> 00:09:54,591 Speaker 2: in this episode, check out the links in the show notes. 139 00:09:55,371 --> 00:09:58,171 Speaker 2: And if you enjoyed what you heard today, subscribe to 140 00:09:58,211 --> 00:10:01,751 Speaker 2: our podcast and please tell a friend about us. We'd 141 00:10:01,821 --> 00:10:03,801 Speaker 2: also love it if you'd rate us and leave us 142 00:10:03,841 --> 00:10:06,721 Speaker 2: a review. It really does help more people find us. 143 00:10:07,421 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 2: Story Behind is a Salem Web Network production. 144 00:10:13,451 --> 00:10:13,981 Speaker 3: Thank you.