As a baby boomer, I'm discovering that aging brings its share of problems. But there are some benefits to growing older. Here are seven I came up with this week. I'm posting them now before I forget them...
1) Simple pleasures take on more meaning. You think, why do extreme sports when you can take a walk with your dog? Why jump out of a plane when you can have a freshly brewed cup of coffee?
2) The allure of popular culture diminishes -- and this is most liberating. You actually don't care that you don't know the names of cultural icons, and you don't care that younger people are shocked that you don't know that stuff. You begin to care about different things.
3) You know where the potholes are in the road of life -- and can help younger people not make the mistakes you made. If they would listen. And the blessing is, many of them do.
4) You have a legitimate reason to take a nap, and going to bed is a nice conclusion to the day. And more: a good night's sleep is something be thankful for.
5) Your eyesight fades a bit and so your spouse looks wrinkle-free again, like your romantically-blurred wedding pictures. That's good for all aspects of your relationship.
6) Your short-term memory is slower to connect, but you know things and can pull out surprising information, often without being asked. Who cares if you don't remember where you put your glasses, when you can identify an Eric Clapton song from just two measures you overhear at the restaurant?
7) Idealism and realism begin to converge -- you finally start to understand Ecclesiastes. You get it, that childlike faith and obedience to the Lord is the most important thing. And you start saying "thank you" a whole lot more.
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil--this is God's gift to man. (Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 ESV)
"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV)
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)
1) Simple pleasures take on more meaning. You think, why do extreme sports when you can take a walk with your dog? Why jump out of a plane when you can have a freshly brewed cup of coffee?
2) The allure of popular culture diminishes -- and this is most liberating. You actually don't care that you don't know the names of cultural icons, and you don't care that younger people are shocked that you don't know that stuff. You begin to care about different things.
3) You know where the potholes are in the road of life -- and can help younger people not make the mistakes you made. If they would listen. And the blessing is, many of them do. 4) You have a legitimate reason to take a nap, and going to bed is a nice conclusion to the day. And more: a good night's sleep is something be thankful for.
5) Your eyesight fades a bit and so your spouse looks wrinkle-free again, like your romantically-blurred wedding pictures. That's good for all aspects of your relationship.
6) Your short-term memory is slower to connect, but you know things and can pull out surprising information, often without being asked. Who cares if you don't remember where you put your glasses, when you can identify an Eric Clapton song from just two measures you overhear at the restaurant?
7) Idealism and realism begin to converge -- you finally start to understand Ecclesiastes. You get it, that childlike faith and obedience to the Lord is the most important thing. And you start saying "thank you" a whole lot more.
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil--this is God's gift to man. (Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 ESV)
"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV)
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)
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