FOREVER YOUNG

Last summer we heard Sir Rod Stewart in concert and, as anticipated, he sang my favorite song from his vast repertoire, “Forever Young.” I thought of that recently as I perused my Facebook page and came upon related posts on the same day. One was from that I knew from the Souls Harbor youth group. In her post she referred to herself “as this old woman.” I took umbrage to that—she was my contemporary, and a couple of years younger than I! The second was from a former church member of our Lima church, who said, “I was looking in the mirror and saw my old face.” She was thankful that she had a face, even if it was an “old face,” but I read in her words, “getting old.” Old isn’t an age—it’s a frame of mind.

I stayed in the home, many years ago, of an eighty years old pastor. He loved Jesus, his church, his wife, Coors Light, and playing pool—I think in that order. He walked erect, dressed well, was immaculately groomed, and worked the cross word puzzle every day to stay sharp. When a younger man tried to rob him of the church offering as he got out of his car, he swung his briefcase and yelled, “You’re not getting God’s money, you little blankety-blank-blank!” (You may fill in the blanks with whatever colorful language you choose.) He was a colorful character, lived to a hundred and two, and didn’t think of himself as old. Old is a frame of mind.

Old people resist change. Old people withdraw. Old people long for the good old days—which as I remember weren’t always that good. Old people focus on their aches and pains, not of the joys of being alive. I’ve known a lot of old people. Some of them were young in age, but old in attitude. And, as they often say, “it’s no fun being old.”

You can’t fight chronological age. We just celebrated the eighteenth birthday of our eldest grand-daughter. At the party our elder daughter’s significant other told me that her son had just turned twenty-two, and asked me, “Does that mean we’re getting old?” I said, “You are, I’m not.” Forever young is a choice. I hope that you make the choice.

When you join me “Behind The Door” I’m going to share some things that will keep you forever young. (You are going to join me “Behind The Door” aren’t you?!? That’s where allthe good stuffs at!) If you have this month’s password you can go there right now. If you don’t hit the “Sowing” button, sow a seed in any amount, (the default setting is $20, some raise it, no one is lowering it), and you will be redirected to the password page. Write it down because it’s good for the entire month. I’ll meet you “Behind The Door.”