Jagadish “Jaggi” Vasudev, better known by the honorific title “Sadhguru,” an Indian yoga guru and proponent of spirituality once remarked: “Old age need not be misery. In many ways, old age can be a great blessing because the whole experience of life is behind you. When you were a child everything was beautiful, but you were eager to grow up because you want to experience life. When you became youthful, your intelligence got hijacked by your hormones. Whatever you did, knowingly or unknowingly, it just pushed you in that direction. Very few people are capable of raising their intelligence beyond the hormonal hijack and looking at life with clarity. All others are trapped in it.
When you come to old age, all the longings are over, a whole experience of life is behind you and you are once again childlike, but you have the wisdom of experience of life. It can be a very fruitful and wonderful part of your life, but unfortunately, most human beings suffer their old age simply because they don't take care of their rejuvenation process properly. In ancient times in India, old age meant Vanaprastha ashrama, where the old couple went back into the forest and lived there joyfully. But today, old age means "hospital ashrama."
If you take care of your rejuvenation process well, old age can be a miraculous part of your life, because it is invaluable to have a whole life’s experience behind you and to be once again childlike.
Everything is over, but very few old people can even smile, unfortunately. This is because the only thing that they knew in their life was the physical body. Once the body begins to recede, they become despondent. It might not have become diseased, no big cancer need to have come, but in every step that you take, age is telling you this is not forever. If you establish yourself in other dimensions of experience, the body becomes an easy thing to handle. Old age and even death can be a joyful experience.” 1 Corinthians 13:11 reminds us: “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.”
Caducity is defined as the infirmity or weakness of old age. However, it does not necessarily apply to all. If one is generally healthy in body and mind there is absolutely no reason why a strong element of youth can’t be retained. The quality of life need not diminish to any great extent. It may be true that one can’t do something at the same speed that they used to in their heyday, but life can still be valued and enjoyed, even if it be at a slower pace.
One of the answers to the impairment of old age is positive thought. If we think young, we remain young. If we believe that we could still do something, then we probably can. 2 Corinthians 4:16 reminds us: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”
Major achievements can still be attained as we approach old age by those with the right attitude and perseverance. Harland Sanders, better known as Colonel Sanders, founded the renowned Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) chain at the age of 62 years. It became extremely successful, and at the age of 74 years, he sold the consortium together with his secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices for two million dollars.
Age should never hinder or deter anyone from attempting to achieve a major accomplishment. The vessel of our bodies include our individual thoughts, wants and needs in life, to be used as and when we see fit. However, God may also wish to use our vessel for a particular purpose. 2 Timothy 2:21 confirms: “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
Simeon and Anna were elderly prophets. Simeon was a devout and righteous man who lived in Jerusalem and Anna in the heart of the temple itself. When the baby Jesus was presented at the temple, 40 days after His birth, to complete Mary’s ritual purification after childbirth, and the redemption of the first-born, in accordance with the law of Moses, Simeon took the baby in his arms and proclaimed these words: "Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!" Simeon had been promised by God that he would not die until he had seen the baby, Jesus.
After this accomplishment, Simeon was ready to die. It is maintained that Anna was probably older than him in age. but just as excited to see the young Messiah. Luke 2:38 states: “And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” It is believed that she could have been at least 104 years of age at her death.
As each New Year begins, many people make a New Year’s Resolution. This may take many forms which include stopping an undesirable habit or beginning a new venture in life. There is no age restriction applied to instigating one.
For those in later life, a resolution can be even more beneficial as it can provide a valuable sense of purpose or a new goal. A different perspective on life is created that can inspire untold possibilities. The process of commitment and determination that possibly has been forgotten from former years, may once again be rejuvenated and diminish a mundane life that has long been in existence. The restrictions of age suddenly become forgotten and the focus is once again concentrated on achievement or accomplishment.
A New Year resolution is a long-observed tradition that is defined as a firm decision to do or not to do something. In the early stages, there is often much determination and self-encouragement for the success of the intention. However, sadly, many people lose heart or tenacity after a period of time and revert to their original form. For those that do succeed, there is often much satisfaction that the ultimate goal has been achieved which can provide much happiness and exuberation. Philippians 3:12-15 confirms: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.”
Amen.
