“God has plans to bring about the future you hope for." ~ Jeremiah 29:11
When Carly, a rookie reporter, had
been assigned a newspaper piece on aging, her boss suggested she interview Jack,
a Depression-era, nonagenarian who’d served in WWII. She cringed at the thought; rescheduling it
several times and hoping it would eventually be forgotten. No such luck!
As she entered the Nursing Home, she imagined an old man
with memories as cloudy as his eyes.
What could she possibly learn from a lifetime of happy mediocrity now
tinged with loneliness?
Carl greeted her with a welcoming smile. His eyes seemed eager to share a story of
laughter, of joy and affection. Carly
would soon learn that Jack was so much more!
“I consider myself a sen-ager,” he began without
prompting. “I have everything I ever wanted as a teenager, only seven
decades later. I don’t have to go to
school or work. I have my own pad. And I don’t have acne. Life’s good!”
When Carly failed to laugh, Jack
continued.
“People my age don’t have many role models on aging elegantly
because few live this long,” he continued.
“So, I’m still learning how to do this.”
Slight chuckle.
“Nowadays, everything happens
at the speed of youth. Whether it’s cell
phones, songs, or movies, only the newest models and latest releases seem to matter. If it’s been around for a while, it’s
probably lost much of its value. Same
with people.”
His smile was engaging, she thought.
“We tend to associate getting older with a decline in
beauty, vitality and appeal. But aging
done well has the potential to be an enjoyable, inspiring upgrade of self.”
“Done right, age brings wisdom, maturity and
insight. With age comes experience,
discernment and perspective. We become
more empathetic. We develop the compassion
to fully know and love others, and the confidence to relax into our best
attributes.”
“When you suddenly realize that
you are, in fact, getting older, it’s still possible to age gracefully from
there on out. All it takes is smart
choices, well-directed energy and a desire for self-renewal.”
“And when you shift your focus to what can be learned and
created, you’ll gain a sense of hope and excitement. If you tell me I’m going to live to be 120,
I’d be worried that it’s not enough time.
I’m excited about deepening my relationships with my family, deepening
my spirituality and writing my family histories.”
As Carly left her interview with Jack, she suddenly realized
why her Editor had given her this assignment.
Sometimes, we become so consumed with our current stage in life that we
think that’s all there is. Especially if
we are going through a trying time, it’s good to know that life is so much
bigger than our current circumstances.
Just ask Jack!
Loving God, let us all pause to ask and then
rely upon the wisdom of our elders. Give
them encouragement to apply their age advantage and to stay engaged enough to
pass along their knowledge and their legacy of understanding. Amen
