Though we are outwardly wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16

The following thoughts flow from my beginning to lose hair and facing the possibility of becoming bald!

Aging is, to put it bluntly, the process of progressive deterioration of the body and loss of abilities and qualities. Hearing fades, eyesight dims, muscles lose strength, flexibility decreases, joints creak, energy wanes and the mind slows.

Many of these losses are more than physical, for they are also the loss of what has made us feel good about ourselves, of what gave us a sense of worth, importance and the ability to reach our goals. Therefore, the process of aging can be doubly devastating as things physical, mental and emotional are taken from us.

Looking at this from a different perspective, however, aging is an opportunity for a deepened life. It should force us to reexamine the values we have adopted, especially on an emotional level. As our ability to perform is taken from us by these losses, it is an opportunity to further turn our attention towards enduring values and truths.

It is an opportunity to affirm that our worth actually does not depend on our accomplishments but upon two unchangeable facts: as human beings we are made in the image of God and as believers we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. In addition, our significance does not come from what we can do with our bodies and minds, but from being given important and vital roles in God’s overall plan for the universe: praise, prayer and persistence in doing what we know to be right and propagation of the gospel.

These all can be carried out in old age even better than in our youth, as we have had time to develop a character that reflects Christ. When we age to the point where we can do nothing else but exist, Christ’s kindness, love and grace can still shine out of our lives as we continually offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Ps. 50:23).

Picture: two deteriorating  old folks!