As the time of our lives advances, we can still grow in faith, hope and charity.
These thoughts are primarily a focus for the elderly. I have realized that I am a member of this group, but only in those times when I really act my age.
I have given much thought to aging over the last several months. Becoming older we enter an age of decline, whether we like it or not. Ailments begin to multiply, we think more and more on how they impact all facets of our existence, physical as well as mental. We begin to reduce our involvement with the rest of society. We just do not move as fast. We know that death is not far away, relatively speaking. There is a very real temptation to give up on ourselves.
It is necessary for us to happily accept the reduction of influence in our life. That does not mean that we refuse to acknowledge the value of our life. We must still move forward and look for those areas where we can satisfy our desire for happiness in our twilight years. Yet we simply are “not as busy as we once were.”
We should remember to continually develop our spiritual life in our old age. We have successfully passed the temptations of our youth. Prayer must remain important.
Early in my life, prayer was always important, but not always consistent. In my youth my prayer was mostly petition: God please give me your help. Help me do what is right, keep me from sin. In my youth my prayer was focused on the moral passages of scripture, especially when they were focused on right versus wrong.
Now I seem to be thinking more of my relationship with God. Praying the Liturgy of the Hours daily focuses my prayer on the psalms. Now I am less concerned about what is right and instead think about the beauty of a close relationship with God. The psalms place me in the instruction of our ancestors.
Thinking about a close relationship with God is a very good response to the urge to give up on ourselves. The struggle between good and evil does not entirely go away, we must still stay vigilant, however standing next to our creator becomes easier to imagine. We must keep our minds active and growing. Now we have the time to grow more deeply into the intellectual life. We have the time to explore God.
Our relationship with others can change as we have a temptation to give up. We become less patient with others. We focus more inwardly and often that can lead to despair. We must stay in close contact with each other by visiting, calling or writing others, it reminds us that we are not forgotten and our influence remains. Our relationships with the young should be centered on abundant kindness and patience. The young are looking for someone our age in whom they may confide their deepest hopes and fears. The young can learn from our wisdom. We don’t have to live lives of despair and loneliness; we can live with happiness and hope as we collaborate with the young. When you live to a ripe old age, it gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge and your experience with the younger generation.
Reverend Billy Graham has said, “I fought growing old in every way.” I faithfully exercised and was careful to pace myself as I began to feel the grasp of Old Man Time. This was not a transition that I welcomed, and I began to dread what I knew would follow.”
Then he discovered… “We were not meant for this world alone, we were meant for Heaven, our final home. What is the toughest thing about getting old? Is it forgetting things? No, it’s remembering everything.”
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month our contributor is Deacon Peter Mueller of St. John’s Catholic Church in Grand Marais.
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