Tomorrow, I’ll turn sixty-five
years old, that makes me an official senior citizen. As I reflect on turning
sixty-five, the first thought that enters my mind is Ecclesiastes chapter
three, verse one: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every
matter under heaven.” Over and again I’ve found this to be a truth in my life.
As the years and decades go by, I think there were certain things that one
could and could not do unique to each year and each decade. For example, I
could not read Luther’s Works at age
one or during the first decade of my life. Nor can I run as fast and far today
at age sixty-five as I could when I was twenty-five. The way that God orders
and structures life affirms this truth.
Of course one can reflect on the aging process
in a number of ways. There is the physical factor: The mind and body both age.
Even though we don’t like to admit it, there are ‘senior moments’ of
forgetfulness: for example, the ease with which we once remembered the names of
other people now requires more intentional effort and can be rather frustrating
and embarrassing at times. The body develops more aches and pains, and some
parts don’t function as well as they did even five or ten years ago. At this
age we are more aware of our mortality, as many of us have lost close friends
or relatives around the same age as ourselves.
There is the socio-economic factor: By this
age, one may look forward to spending more time with friends, neighbours and
family; enjoying travelling and hobbies; and contributing to the well being of
the community perhaps by volunteering for one or more organisations. From an
economic standpoint, many will retire at sixty-five; whereas a growing number
of people in our society realize, for various reasons, that they’re not ready
to retire at sixty-five and work one or more years longer. There is no ‘magic
formula’ to help folks when is the best time to retire. Some will have to
retire due to illnesses. Others may have to work longer than they wish because
of their financial situation. Yet others may wish to work longer but their
workplace does not give them that choice.
There is the spiritual factor: In our
society personal identity and meaning is closely linked with work—we are who we
are because of what we do. We are more often seen as ‘human doings’ than ‘human
beings.’ From a faith perspective, the opposite is true. We are created in
God’s image—that’s our true identity, and that is what gives life meaning.
Moreover in relationship with God, it is what God through Jesus has done for us
rather than what we have done for God that ultimately matters. We are justified
by God’s grace through faith, which is a gift from God—not by anything that we
do, even though what we do may be viewed as quite significant by worldly
standards. As one grows older, hopefully one becomes more conscious and
appreciative of one’s need of God’s grace.
The French writer, Jules Renard, said: “It is
not how old you are, but how you are old.” My hope and prayer is that I may
grow old gracefully, not be a burden on others, and make some
contributions—however small—to the well being of the church and society.
