Back in the early 60s when I was a young teen, Dad took me to an Artur Rubenstein concert. For those of you too young to recognize that name, Mr. Rubenstein was a well-known pianist of the last century.
You’d think a thirteen-year old would be bored at a classical performance. Far from it. Mr. Rubenstein’s flying fingers held me spellbound. Sometimes he’d even come up off the bench, putting body and soul into the piece.
One selection in particular Dad and I will never forget. While performing “Ritual Fire Dance” by DeFalla, Mr. Rubenstein’s arms beat up and down like hummingbird wings, from head level to keyboard, in rapid succession. How could he possibly bring his fingers down to the right keys from such a height and at such speed? It was a marvel of power and precision—from a man who was seventy-five at the time.
(You can access a video of Mr. Rubinstein playing “Ritual Fire Dance” here: https://youtu.be/3SDeN9ZrRRI. To view just the DeFalla piece, skip ahead to minute #11; to see just the portion described above, skip to 11 minutes, 30 seconds.)
Yes, older folks can still fly—maybe not physically like Mr. Rubenstein’s fingers, but certainly attitudinally and spiritually.
Our youth can be renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:5).
The eagle enjoys a long life compared to many other animals–up to thirty years in the wild and fifty years in captivity. Each year its feathers are renewed, providing new strength for flight.
We can renew our strength attitudinally by focusing on the benefits of growing older.
Yes, research has uncovered a number of advantages, including:
- Improved self-esteem, self-control, and selflessness.
- Decreased sadness, anger, fear, and other negative emotions. Stress and worry also decline.
- Less concern for the trivial; more focus on what’s important.
- Increased wisdom, due to a wide base of experience and a broader perspective on life.
- Less attention on the negative, more focus on the positive.
As a Christian senior, I’d have to add:
- Increased faith in God as I’ve seen more evidence of God’s faithfulness.
- Greater appreciation for the simpler things of life—each one a precious gift from my loving Heavenly Father.
- The glorious hope of heaven as it grows closer to becoming reality. John Newton said:
(“I am still in the land of the dying;
I shall be in the land of the living soon.”)
I like his perspective.
We can also renew our strength spiritually with the help of God.
Just as the eagle rides on the wind high above the earth, we too can ride above our infirmities on the wind of the Spirit. He provides renewal of faith, strength, and passion in numerous ways—through scripture, song, other biblical reading, strong teaching, mature Christians, and more. Then we can:
- flourish and be fruitful (Psalm 92:14).
- stand firm and immovable (1 Corinthians 15:58).
- always give ourselves fully to God’s work (same verse).
- run and not be weary (Isaiah 40:31).
Here’s an idea: Let’s start a list of advantages we observe in growing older, to help keep us uplifted on wings of praise.
What “blessings of aging” have you noticed? Please share in the comments section below. (If you’re still enjoying the first half of life, tell us what you’ve observed in others, or what you’re looking forward to.)
“The last chapter in life can be the best!” – Vance Havner
(Art & photo credits: www.youtube.com; http://www.freeimages.com; http://www.azquotes.com; http://www.wildlifeworkshops.com; http://www.pinterest.com.
From the Inside Out 