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So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18, NLT).
Every time a waitress sees my white hair and raises her voice, assuming that I’m hearing impaired, or the window person at a local coffee drive-through calls me “Honey,” I know what’s happening: they’ve typecast me as being old — Old — OLD.
And these trying-to-show-kindness restaurant workers are half right. We are both physical and spiritual beings, with the body diminishing but the Spirit increasing as we age. That’s why the Apostle Paul writes that we should live from “glory to glory.”
While the aging of the body can be postponed with the best health practices, for all of us, the New Year’s ball drops in Times Square only so many times. But the Spirit is the opposite, as our walking in His peace, power, and provision becomes more fruitful. I believe that our relational experiences with God and of His working through us can increase into our 60s, 70s, and 80s.
To avoid the incapacitation of your Spirit, avoid these three common pitfalls…
- Say that you are getting older
In Numbers 14:2b, the Israelites, succumbing to fear, said: “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” Later, God said to Moses, “As I live, just as they have spoken in My hearing, so I will surely do to them.” And all the Israelites who came out of Egypt died in the wilderness except Joshua and Caleb.
Please note that our lives will track our words. Yes, we are getting old physically, but we can grow stronger spiritually, so let’s always emphasize the goodness of God.
- Think that you can’t learn technology
Our brains segment as we age; in a sense, they become less general but more specific. That’s why I can still memorize sermons and yet can’t remember a person’s name right after I’ve been introduced to them.
Let’s not dismiss technology by making proclamations like, “If you can’t start your computer, ask your grandchild.” Understand what’s happening with AI today. Since senior citizens know how to speak and write with proper grammar and pronunciation, AI programs prefer their instructions. The gobbledygook of culture isn’t specific enough for proper AI dialogue.
That’s right: AI, offering many opportunities for the gospel (and many negatives too, which I will discuss tomorrow), can be directed by conversation. No need to learn complicated codes or stuff only children can understand. Just speak clearly, and you will be amazed at your new superpowers.
- Age justifies becoming crass
There is a certain revenge factor as we age; instead of holding our tongue, we can just spit it out, and though offensive, those calling us “sweetie” and “honey” will just write it off to old age.
But, Paul writes that our words should give grace to those who hear us (Ephesians 4:29). Instead of becoming a curmudgeon, allow your age-processed gentleness to speak words of life.
My mother, who worked with the aged, said, “There are two types of old people: mean as snakes, and gentle as lambs.” What do we choose?
I don’t know about you, but I want to be on the lamb side of getting older.
NOTE: Here is my example of talking to AI … I took this photo of my wife’s cat and asked my AI to, “Please make a video of this cat sashaying out from under the Christmas tree, then stand up while singing ‘Deck the Halls with Boughs of Catnip.’” (All I needed was to be able to write plain and descriptive English.)
Please see the results here!