Torch, Spring 1991

S he grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsyl– vania, having fun , playing games, and going to house parties. She had a car as a teenager and loved to fly in open cockpit biplanes. "My family never insisted that I assume any responsibilities in those early years," she recalls. "Having no abiding philosophy or purpose for life, I excelled at 'kicking at comets and grasping at stars .' I was not content until I could squeeze out of life all the fun it had to offer. " Today Mrs. Sabol is a widow who spends her winters in Florida and her summers in Cleveland, Ohio. Her enthusiasm for living has not lessened, although it has a new focus . She now explains to others her age that material possessions do not ultimately satisfy. Only Jesus Christ can do that. "Two months after my husband died of bone cancer, a friend in Florida sug– gested that I start a Bible class for ladies who belonged to a local country club. She knew I had to have something to do to serve the Lord or my life would be empty. "So I agreed to teach the class, expect– ing to have only six or seven women. The apartment in which we met eventu– ally became too small, so we moved to a villa, then to the tennis pavilion, and finally to the newly renovated country club. They even moved in a grand piano for our song time! Isn 't that perfect fun? It just boggles my mind. God 's provi– sions are truly beyond what we could ask or think. Eventually we had 80 ladies in attendance. Praise the Lord! Five of these professed faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. "During this time I had asked the Lord to help me see people through Jesus' A Senior Seeing With Jesus' Eyes eyes," she tells. "Then I can love anyone. We Christians should not be intimidated by anything or anyone. We have everything in the world to offer, namely, how to have a personal rela– tionship with Christ. When you've got Him, you 've got everything." Mrs. Sabol goes on to point out that many in the class are just beginning their search for truth as it relates to God, the Holy Spirit, the second coming of Christ, and their eternal destiny. She encourages a very inf01mal atmosphere in which members feel free to question anything anytime. Since the study runs through lunch, she says her best interac– tion opportunities are at the table. "There are times when I have diffi– culty swallowing my food because of the questions and lively discussions that follow," she related. "It is extremely exciting, and I cherish it." She has used Moody Press and Navigator materials for her curriculum, but she also draws upon years of Sunday school teaching experience with her husband when they lived in Cleveland. "While I was a brand new Christian in 1936, my minister asked me to teach a class of senior high girls. I reminded him that I probably knew only a couple of Bible verses, but I loved the Lord and had experienced a 180 degree turn– around in my life by His grace. So he assured me that I would learn as I taught. I took him at his word and launched out on my first challenging venture of Christian service. Ten years later my husband and I moved to Cleveland and worked with young married couples. I attended the Cleveland Baptist Bible Institute at night and went to all the Bible Confer- ences and camp meetings I possibly could. Within me there was an insa– tiable desire to know more of God 's Word and more of Him personally. "Someone once told me I am like 'fertilizer '. I guess that is a pretty good analogy according to the dictionary definition of the term. As I spread the Word, I try to prepare the ground so that the seed of the Gospel will grow in the lives of these people to whom I minis– ter. Several have actually accepted Jesus as their personal Savior, and I follow up with them so that they will grow. I don 't know of anything more exciting in life that I could be doing." Mrs. Sabol was diagnosed with malignant lung cancer in 1970. She recovered, however, and says, "I made up my mind that if the Lord spared me , He must have done so for a purpose. It was my job to get on with life, not sit at home and mope. After all, I have all these promises in the Scriptures to claim. I especially like this one: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (I Corinthians 15:58). Natalie Sabol, above left, lives in Cleveland and spends her winters in Delray Beach, Florida.