Aging

​Alas, we live in a society that desperately wants to deny the reality of aging.  Aging is:

• The warm-up act for death—which explains why almost everyone wants to arrive late to the show.
• The car that runs 35 on a 55 mph freeway with no exits called Compassion.
• Grandpa’s welcome sound of silence in a noisy room where repeated phrases scornfully imply he’s stupid not hard of hearing.
• The forgotten memory of I forget what.
• The symptom of a race diseased by disobedience.
• A graceful dance in a land where fast beats and heavy bass rule.
• The compilation of history, a treasure chest of wisdom that is too often shirked for clever sound bites.  
• The end of the cycle:  receiving care, demanding care, careless, caring, careful, demanding care, receiving care.
• The dignified white peak, or a shining crown of a rounded mountain that experiences more land slides.  
• When a face lift may not mean a smile.
• The ability to nod off while perpendicular to the ground.
• When routine becomes more important than activities.
• The recognition that convalescent home is an oxymoron.
• Detested by those who disdain life but want nothing to do with death, an interesting paradox.
• The testimony of grace for those who walk with the Ancient of Days.

 
Meditation
Joshua 14:10-13--As you see, the Lord has kept me alive these 45 years as He promised, since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel was journeying in the wilderness. Here I am today, 85 years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then. Now give me this hill country the Lord promised me on that day, because you heard then that the Anakim are there, as well as large fortified cities. Perhaps the Lord will be with me and I will drive them out as the Lord promised.” Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as an inheritance.
 
For those who can no longer fit all the birthday candles on the cake, may the spirit of Caleb be your mantle. May you see each day as a new blessing because you are closer to Jesus, wiser in knowledge, courageous in faith! 
 
Inspiration
The mature saint is just like a little child, absolutely simple and joyful and happy.  Go on living the life that God would have you live and you will grow younger instead of older.  There is a marvelous rejuvenescence when you let God have His way.  If you are feeling very old, then get born again and go to it.—Oswald Chambers in The Psychology of Redemption
 
©1998 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)