(~) Getting Old

A minister announced that admission to a church social event would be $6.00 per person. "However, if you're over 65," he said, " the price will be only $5.50."

From the back of the congregation, a woman's voice rang out, "Do you really think I'd give you that information for only 50 cents?"

Most of us are hesitant to give out our age. Why? Because we want others to think we're younger than we really are. We'll go to great lengths to hide our age -- change our hair style or have our hair dyed (to hide those terrible gray hairs), buy creams to hide those wrinkles and lines on the face, and even have cosmetic surgery just to keep people from guessing how old we really are.

When did we reach the point in our culture that old age is a bad thing? Here in America, youth is glorified, so age is something that you cover up and deny, not something seen as good or enjoyable. One of the concepts that our industrial world has brought us is "planned obsolescence" -- it's the idea that what isn't new isn't desirable. And, so it follows, according to this reasoning, that when people wear out, they should be pushed aside and ignored.

The talents and skills of the elderly, acquired over a lifetime, are often ignored. Older people often feel they've spent their whole life working to become good at something, only to find that nobody wants their skill. And so they struggle with feelings of uselessness, loneliness and depression.

May God help us to restore the respect and honor that old age deserves.

"'Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly." (Leviticus 19:32)

"Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older." (I Peter 5:5)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith