Aging well
Last night I went to the Eagle’s concert. They’re all in their 70’s. And so was a lot of the crowd that was there. So this homily is for everyone who’s in their 70’s or older. The other day I heard someone about my age say, “You know what happens when you get older? You walk by young people and it’s like you’re your invisible. They won’t even notice you’re there. In our culture when you’re older you’re not in your prime. You’re passed your prime. No wonder getting older is not something we like to talk about.
While we all will eventually get older there are some things that we can do that help as we get older, like eating healthy, regular exercise, and staying engaged. But as good as those things are, studies show that there are two other things that will help us thrive even more than all the other things we do to take care of ourselves as we age.
The first has to do with learning to let go and forgive. Hang on to old hurts and they eat away at us, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The second is somewhat related. Learn to be grateful, even when adversity comes. Forgiveness and gratitude, if there’s any two habits you want to cultivate these are the two you want to have, especially as we get older.
But forgiveness and gratitude don’t just show up in our lives. We’ve got to work at them. The parable that Jesus tells today reminds us of that. Thre master gives, of what he has to three of his servants. Two of the servants put their gifts to work. But one buries his gift. And so, for us. Forgiveness, and gratitude, don’t bury those gifts. Put them to work and it will change everything.
This week on my annual priest retreat there was an older priest who back in the seminary was one heck of a hockey player. He could skate circles around just about anyone. But he’s not skating circles around anyone these days. He lives with a congestive heart condition that’s really slowed him down. He has to stop every few steps to catch his breath.
Yet there’s something about him that just makes you want to be around him. He’s got the fire within. You can see it in his eyes. For him life is still good. That’s why he’s aging well.
For him aging is not diminishment. It’s a deepening, a deepening into the life that God has given him to live. And he’s able to do that because over the years he’s learned how to let go and forgive and how to be grateful in all things.
Learning to forgive and learning to be grateful, these are the talents that God gives each of us. Bury them and they go wasted. But put them to work and the fire within will always be there.
And so, no matter what age you are you want to know the secret for aging well? Repeat after me. “Every day and in every way”. I can hardly wait. To get older. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. See you next week.
