When I was a teen or in my twenties, I didn’t think much about age. It seemed quite irrelevant and unnecessary. Now that a few decades have passed, the topic comes up more frequently in conversations with friends and neighbors, and in other ways, such as through advice columns in the media for financial and health planning for people at my age, and so on. I don’t ignore the topic anymore. I take it head on with truth and counteract the beliefs that are often attached with advancing years. I believe it’s the wise thing to do.
At a recent lecture, one woman told me I was much younger than I am. This happens to me frequently. But as I was driving back to my hotel for the evening, I prayed about her comments to be sure that I had the right perspective.
I reminded myself that God’s child is not an aging mortal. God’s child is an immortal ageless being who fully reflects all of Life’s qualities forever. Our strength, faculties, abilities, consciousness, memory, beauty, and everything else that constitute our individuality, are immortal, coming from God, fully and completely at all times. And not just in a remote place called heaven. But right here on earth! “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.”
And then I thought about the different kinds of experiences humans have with aging. Some people age gracefully, beautifully, retaining their health, vigor, and beauty. Others have opposite experiences. And the difference is the belief systems behind the experiences. Thinking that is illuminated with the spiritual reality of Life, consciously or unconsciously, is going to have a much better aging experience than thought immersed in beliefs that deny spiritual health and harmony, or is laden with fears about “growing old.”
Then it occurred to me, “You don’t have to grow older with time.”
I loved it!
I suddenly lost my fear of advancing years. Passing years do not sever our relationship to God, the source of our health, strength and well being. God gives us these things no matter what age we identify with. Years are not an enemy. Age is not an enemy.
What’s the big deal about ages and time? There is no “big deal.” Life is eternal. That’s the reality that never changes, and is the place thought needs to stay.
I don’t have to grow older with time…
You don’t either.
Thanks for reminding readers of the need not to fall for the timeline trick — that we have a beginning and an end on earth, and that the end is scary, unpredictable, and full of decay and decrepitude and decline — all the “DE” words that lead to the final one, DEath.
The lovely tree in the photo isn’t worried about growing old, thank goodness. It keeps growing anew, at the direction of the Mind of the universe! New leaves, new branches, new rings, new roots every year.
This blog relates nicely to your previous one, on progress requiring change.
Progress demands that we always be thinking fresh new ageless thoughts — independent of the masses, the latest fad, even the theories and “laws” humans been programmed to believe from youth on up (or down!) as well as throughout the ages.
I like thinking that instead of aging (believing I’m becoming older) I am spiritually evolving (becoming more aware of what is real — namely, perfect God and perfect man).
I bet we have to get to the point where we see that years are not an enemy and age is not an enemy before we can clearly see that death is not an enemy.
Timely comments, Evan, as this year fades into the next. Ageless being, that is the fact of our identity. Thank you for bringing that out in such a joyful approach. Yes, to know you, is to see that you express youthfulness and a zest for life that lightens a room when you walk in! The source of that lightheartedness is your confidence in the goodness of Life. You radiate Life and joy. Thanks for sharing! Great article!
“Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity.” Mary Baker Eddy’s answer to the question, “What is Life?” on page 468 of Science and Health, includes this continually, to me, memorable statement, which concurs with your observations, of course, in this fine article reminding us of the ageless quality inherent in divine life, inclusive of everlasting, harmonious, progressive activity. Thank you Evan. – Phil/Detroit,MI
I’m reminded of an article in an old periodical.
Life is like you standing on the bank of a river, watching the river (of time) flow by. But it has nothing to do with you. You are quite separate from time, and merely observing it. It in no way touches or changes you. (the spiritual idea of God).
To above,
I love the analogy of the river flowing by but not affecting one whose feet are planted on the bank. Thanks for sharing it!