Some of the greatest people I know are seniors. I enjoy their frankness and their willingness to share themselves with others. They give me hope.
I think that by the time the baby boomer generation reaches the Oldest-Old stage, that whole chapter of human development will be rewritten possibly more than once. Humans are living longer. If this trend continues, humans may live to be 200 years old by the end of this century. Regardless, I think that my generation is much too absorbed with trying to defeat the aging process. Why not just accept it, enjoy it, and live it?
We are blessed to be living in the greatest age in human history. Now seniors live longer and can enjoy a relatively high quality of life compared to our ancestors. Many diseases of this life stage are treatable, if not curable; and despite the harsh living conditions of some third world countries, life in these United States “ain’t that bad”.
I certainly could go for becoming one of the Oldest-Old. It sure beats the alternative. I am not making light of the prospect of aging and all of the related declining health issues; but there is always something to look forward to each day. Put a bit differently; the human spirit is indefatigable, and does not seem to age.
This brings me to the subject of spirituality (you all knew it was coming). Some studies show that religion can be a positive factor in longevity. There is more to life than just the mortality of it. No matter what a person’s faith persuasion is, faith gets a person a lot further down the road. Faith is self-defining. With faith comes hope. Faith believes in more. If you believe and hope there is more than just this life, then there is.
It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’ Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. ~2 Corinthians 4:13,14 NIV
The key is to embrace what you have. I would much rather dance closely with a partner than in an open embrace. The dance is much more fluid and graceful when the intimacy is there. I plan on embracing my late adulthood stage as gracefully as possible; for life is a dance and the last dance is always the best.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
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