Weekly Thought – March 12, 2024
Fred served as mentor to leaders throughout North America. One, Dr. Ramesh Richard, considered him his “wise old owl” and brought an owl figurine from his proclamation and training journeys worldwide. They were displayed in his bedroom where he could see them from his hospital bed. On his death they were returned to Dr. Richard to distribute as a blessing.
Benefits of Aging
I think that it is important to look at some of the benefits of getting older.
1) Selective tension- Older people are usually tense over important things, not over everything. So many young people maintain such a high level of stress they have no peaks and valleys. There was a time when golf consumed my time. My memory and quickness seemed to wane. In checking with a psychiatrist friend (on a non-professional basis) he told me the brain is a muscle and I had put too much leisure into my schedule. “Bring back some constructive tension and you will improve.” I did – and it did!
2) Clarified values. In aging I agree with the philosopher who says that who we are influences our happiness much more than what we have. As we grow older we have the opportunity to sort through our value system. One caveat: as we clarify we are tempted to force our value structures on younger people. They haven’t had the experiences and growth which matures so imposing our “wisdom” on them can create relational chafing.
3) Experience. Proverbs 20:29 says “The glory of young men is their strength; of old men their experience.” We can take knowledge, run it through the press of experience, and out comes a powerful concentrate – wisdom. Faith is better than experience because it doesn’t come with the scars. In my estimation faith and experience can lead to the same destination. The older I get, the more faith looks like the best path.
4) Increased excitement. The last minutes of a sporting event generate tremendous excitement. I once sat in the pit with one of the Indy 500 crews. The last 100 miles were “the reason for the first 400.” All the experiences, friends, association, and education are consummated in these last years.
5) Tested Relationships. As we grow older, relationships mature. We have tested our friendship over the years and know which ones will hold and which ones will always be tentative. We learn to trust people with whom we can talk confidentially. They’re real. And it’s a wonderful thing to know we will probably be neighbors in heaven.
6) Death is part of life. The great hope of heaven is that I will know the full truth. I think it is important as we go along through life to create certain thirsts that death will satisfy. For example, the thirst for truth, immortality, knowing God, and renewing relationships with those who have gone ahead. You start developing these in your teens, feed and nurture them, and then when the time comes it becomes a graduation.
This week carefully consider: 1) How well am I managing my aging process? 2) What interests are stimulating my brain? 3) Who models finishing well for me?
Words of Wisdom: “Aging has definable benefits.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man who had lived a full life.” (Genesis 25:8 NET Bible)