‘Never too old!
The other day my wife showed me an inspiring and encouraging article in an online newspaper. It was the story of an elderly lady who had enjoyed singing all her life but at the age of 60 her voice had begun to fail. Understandably she was distressed and wondered if anything could ever fill the void that singing had left behind. One day while sitting in her garden she heard church bells ringing, and thought how lovely it sounded. The next day a tradesman called at her house who happened to be a bellringer. He put her in touch with the local tower captain and at the age of 67 she climbed a church tower for the first time. At the age of 70 she rang her first quarter peal. At the age of 80 she rang eight different methods, one to mark each decade of her life. Like singing, she discovered that bell-ringing was a way of expressing her joy in life, and she has no plans to stop as she aims for 90.
As we grow older we all have concerns about the future and whether we will be able to continue enjoying the things we love to do in life. Will the time come when we begin to feel we are just too old to keep going? Scripture encourages us to have a positive attitude to growing old, continuing to live by faith, trusting in the promise of God’s word. God has a plan and purpose for us, even in the latter years of our lives. He will not abandon us. The psalmist tells us that as we believe in God, we will “still bear fruit in old age.” (Ps 92:14) In the prophesy of Isaiah we find God’s promise, “Even to your old age and grey hairs, I am he who will sustain you. I will carry you and rescue you.” (Is. 46:4) As far as God is concerned we are never too old to serve him. He will continue to be with us and keep us till the end. There are always new things to do and to learn. So let us look forward in faith as the years go by, trusting that, “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” (Is. 40:31)
Revd. George G Cringles