Psalm 71:1-14

“Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent.” vs. 9

Some things never change! Even in the time of the psalmist, more than 2500 years ago, people had a fear of growing old. That fear stems, not so much from the aches, pains, and muscle weakness that come from aging, but the alienation and loneliness can be almost more than our spirits can bear. Physical decline is one thing, but we hate the idea of being isolated and forgotten. And because we’ve figured out how to contain disease and fix worn out joints, the population of the elderly is exploding. More and more of us are having to deal with the loss of community and intimacy that goes along with memory units and assisted living. And the sadness is overwhelming. Men and women who have lived long and productive lives feel themselves increasingly irrelevant. Some feel deserted by their families, and when minds begin to slip away, the overwhelming feeling is one of despair. Because the whole process seems unavoidable it’s hard to know what to do. What we can do is recognize the inevitability of aging and do what we can to prepare for it. At the same time, it is incumbent on us to assure our aging family members and friends that they continue to be relevant to us, and that we will never forget them! When love is present, even the winter of our life can be full of joy!

Thought for the Day: How am I dealing with aging?