Being older has its ups and downs. I will be eligible for early social security income this year, but it’s not like I have one foot in the grave. For one thing, having grandchildren is God’s way of saying, “Thanks for sticking around.” Also seeing your children display some of your traits is both heartwarming and scary.
Running out of breath while I’m down there tying my shoes is a little annoying, and looking at something on the bottom shelf at Walmart, then having to find another shelf that will support you while pulling yourself up is embarrassing. But all in all, life is good. My mind is younger than ever; it’s where I live a lot of time these days.
There are a lot of people, however, young and old, who are just not at home with themselves. For some, things feel so badly that death would be a welcome respite before Judgment Day — or whatever. Church congregations sing about this world not being our home, that we’re just passing through. Physical, mental and spiritual ailments give us a sense of oppression, causing us to want to break free from this mortal prison.
Set against this scenario, there are folks who, instead of pining over the negatives of life, choose to embrace life on a daily basis. They look for the good in people; they become more observant of the grandeur of nature; and they give thanks for each breath and each new day. Hope guides their steps and God directs their tomorrows. They are seldom strangers to people they meet or events they encounter. Scottish author, George MacDonald, wrote, “Many, when they die, will find themselves more at home than ever they were in this world.”
As we go through life, our minds are constantly checking our progress, reminding us of past failures, encouraging us to future successes and sharpening our reasoning process so that we may properly assess this life as well as the next. The poet and philosopher, Sir William Drummond, said, “He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who does not is a slave.”
I must disagree with many of my Christian bretheren. I’m not just passing through. True, looking back, 61+ years seemed to fly by. But I’m still here. Each day brings joy, challenges, life lessons and, sometimes, a little sadness. And I don’t want to miss a minute of it. Life is good.
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