It has been official for some time now, I am old. I move slower than I did before. I have less energy. My appetite has diminished – I can’t eat a whole medium (much less large) pizza all by myself like I once could. I’m not as strong as I once was and I get sleepy really easily.
That last remark makes me think of a funny comment I once heard. Someone said, “When I die, I want to go like grandpa did, quiet and peacefully in his sleep. I don’t want to die kicking and screaming like the rest of the passengers in his car did.”
Well, that may be a funny joke, but truthfully, it is harder and harder for me to take longer trips in the car without getting sleepy. I have stopped at rest areas along our journeys and taken a nap before continuing on our trip because I got so sleepy. On our frequent trips to Tulsa for doctor appointments, if our son is with us, I make him drive home.
The other bothersome thing about getting old is loss of hearing. I have hearing aids and so does my wife, but even so, I often can’t understand my wife, nor she, me. Of course, it would really help if she didn’t decide to speak to me when I am around the corner in another room where the washing machine is running. But truthfully, you should hear some of our conversations.
We have perfected this ability to answer a question with an answer that has absolutely nothing to do with the question asked. “Honey, would you like to take a drive in the country?”, is asked. That is followed by, “I have no idea what we’re eating for dinner Sunday!” What?!
It’s like another joke I heard about a man who thought his wife was deaf. He told a doctor, looking for some help. The doctor said, “Here is what you do. Go home and ask her a question while standing 20 feet away. If she doesn’t answer, move to 15 feet away and then ask again. If she doesn’t answer, move to 10 feet, then to five, until she answers and we can find out just how bad her hearing is.”
So the man tried it. He stood 20 feet away and asked her, “What’s for dinner, dear?” No answer, nothing. So, he tried again at 15 feet. Nothing! He tried again at 10 feet. Nothing! Finally he tried at 5 feet and she whirled on him and said, “I told you four times already, chicken!” Oh, well, I think it is all part of what comes with age.
Interestingly, the Bible is a book that doesn’t make fun of old age. It never puts down people of advanced years. If you study it and take it seriously, the Bible sees older people as valuable. I don’t care what age you are, the Bible honors you. Moses was 80 when God called him. Sarah was 90 when she conceived Isaac as God’s promise was fulfilled to her and Abraham.
I may be slower, weaker and lacking in energy, but God has promised me that He is not finished with me yet. And, however old you are, God’s not finished with you either. If you try, you might just be amazed at what God can still do through you!
– Just a Thought Dale Fillmore is lead pastor at New Day Church.
