A New View of Old Geezers

Somewhere I read a brief news article about Edgar Barreto. At age 60+, he decided to return to his alma mater and play a little football—more than 40 years after last suiting up with the school’s team. This man, who has competed in over 200 marathons, said, “I try very hard not to be patterned by society, not to behave my age.” You have to admire his attitude if not his activity.

The creeping limitations of aging will cause physical changes in us, but let us never allow them to erode the vitality of spirit and accomplishment that God desires. True Christian maturity is not reaching a point of final accomplishment. Instead, it’s reaching a point where we realize that we must keep on reaching.

As the inspired apostle Paul expressed it in Philippians 3:12-15 – Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.

You decide the quality of the process. Fill your senior years with self-pity, and life becomes about as encouraging as watching the evening news on TV. But, fill your years with service, and life gets more exciting.

So, send someone a card, make a phone call, pay a visit. Become a “prayer warrior.” Pray for your family, our church staff, the elders, the deacons, teachers, your neighbors. The list is endless. Make your own and pour out your heart to God over these folks. Let them know you are praying for them, including the gratitude you express to God for them. Life will be a lot less dull, and God’s love will be spread around more abundantly.
In Christian love, Lloyd