September 8, 2016 (Thursday)
“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:14 NIV).” Wow, now that’s what I call “plain talk.” James lays it on the line, and reminds us of the brevity of life. As if we needed a reminder.
As I approach my 85th birthday, I’m interested in the aging process so I looked up information about it. I found out that elderly people make up a greater percentage of the population each year. Generally speaking, people are living longer.
For some elderly folks, this is not particularly good news. For instance, I discovered in my small search for facts that there are a host of old people who are homeless. It’s bad enough to get old and sick, but to live on the street besides, well, that’s unbelievable.
One item in my research told me that older people are healthier than they used to be, and many people way up in years still feel pretty good. I put myself in that class. At least for now. The statement that caught my eye in this regard was, “90 is the new 85.” What does that mean? I must make it to 90 before I can be 85? When I reach 90 I’ll really only be 85? We have strange ways of saying things these days.
Wanda’s Aunt Myra lived to be 93, almost 94. She was active until she died. I called her on the phone one day and someone said something about “meals on wheels,” so I assumed she, in her 90’s, was receiving meals on wheels. Wrong. She was preparing some items for the service in her kitchen and on certain days made deliveries of “meals on wheels” to the elderly. To the end she was actively involved in ministry. Helping others. Hey, maybe that’s why she lived so long.
Life is brief, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it. As long as we are able, let us follow the steps of our Master and keep going “where the action is,” where the needs are.
