Getting Older

Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble. (Isaiah 46:3-7 ESV).

In one week, on December 9th, Kirk Douglas will be 100 years old. When he was 97 he said, “Age is in the mind. I’ve survived a helicopter crash and back surgery. I have a pacemaker. I had a stroke that almost made me commit suicide. But I tell myself, I have to continue growing and functioning. That’s the only antidote for age.” Well, I haven’t walked that path; and, certainly haven’t walked for that long. However, I do know this: old age sure ain’t for sissies. In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon agreed. He wrote of how the things we take for granted when we’re young cause us to lose delight in living when we’re old. Our eyesight grows dim. We start with reading glasses and move to bifocals. Our hearing grows weak. We’re constantly saying “Huh?” to our spouse. We have time to sleep late but we wake up early. Our hands start to tremble. We get old. Old age isn’t for sissies, and without God it can be meaningless. But with God, there is wisdom, strength, joy, and the hope that when the body finally gives out, there is life, real life in heaven with God and all those who have gone on before us. It’s something to remember when you’re young and when you’re old. Here are some things to practice to make it easier. First, enrich the lives of those close to you. Second, develop activities that will take you out of your normal routine. Third, attack the “I'll-Do-It-Tomorrow” projects you’ve been dreading. The more focused you become on enriching the lives of others, the more sense of purpose you'll have. The more you begin to explore new interests, the more engaged with life you'll become. The more you begin to tackle long-postponed projects, the more empowered you'll feel. All these things put in to practice will result in a heightened enthusiasm for life. The more energized and optimistic you feel, the more you'll be moved to express your gratitude to God. Thank Him for this wonderful life you've been given. A spirit of gratitude, more than anything else, will help determine whether you grow old gracefully or just grow old.