A Work in Progress March 1, 2010
Sheree has asked us to share about an older woman who has personally inspired us with faith towards the aging process. This is a challenge because I can’t think of one in my life. Oh, I know lots of older women who inspire me in so many ways, but we’ve never had this particular conversation, and I know it’s because I haven’t asked! Plain and Simple!
Ouch!
I’m going to be gut-wrenchingly honest here – I haven’t asked because I haven’t been looking forward to the next season of life. I don’t want to grow old. I like my life now, and it makes me sad to realize I am aging. My body hurts in places I’ve never felt pain. I can’t go and do without thought to how it will effect my body the way I used to. I have to take vitamins and supplements. All the things that remind me of the aging process I would like so much to ignore.
Tom and I were recently away for a week together, and I touched on this topic briefly with him. The thought the Lord was bringing to my heart was the fact that every season of my life I’ve anticipated with faith the next season. This is the first time I’m not looking forward to the next season. I am realizing how sentimental I am about life, and God is helping me begin to address this blind spot.
How?
My first step in facing any blind spot is seeing it (that happened while we were away), and the second step is confessing it to God and others (which I’m doing right now). After that it’s really the Holy Spirit who does the purging and changing. I am confident He will bring me to place of Biblical conviction about growing old. I know all the “right” answers. I’ve heard them and said I believe them. But I’m realizing at the age of 50 – it’s much easier to embrace the idea of growing old in the Lord when you’re in your 20′s and 30′s than it is when old age is right around the corner.
So, I am certain of this one thing: God will complete this work He’s begun in me! And hopefully, I’ll offer a follow-up post on exactly how He did it. Until then…I’m a work in progress!
Posted by Debi
[...] I think so. And, to be honest, I am in the same boat Debi was (read her post earlier this week here). I haven’t asked an older woman what she has learned about aging with a biblical view in mind. [...]