Human beings are complex. Ask someone his or her age and the answer may surprise you. When a 15-year old girl is asked her age, she will say, "I'm almost 16." A mother in her mid-forties with a 22-year-old daughter is pleased when someone tells her, "You don't look much older than your daughter." A man in his sixties is delighted when someone says to him, "You don't look a day over fifty." My 90-year-old mother constantly reminds me that she is almost 91. Of course, some people never tell their age.

What is aging? How do we react to it? As I am in my sixties and retired, these questions are no longer academic for me. When I was in my teens, I thought that people in their fifties were old. At this juncture in my life, a fifty-year-old seems relatively youthful. Throughout our lives we think other people grow older until we gradually realize that we have aged. Some say that aging can be compared with the fall season when the fruits ripen and the leaves fall, others claim that the moment of aging has arrived when the sum total of memories has become greater than our expectations. Many people assume that aging is naturally linked to illness. But not all seniors are ill or have been ill. Some always enjoyed good health and still have the strength, the energy, and the desire to participate in life. Yet one of the most diffi­cult problems for a senior is to show what he or she is worth.

Not everyone experiences the aging process the same way. Some accept their twilight years with grace; others can't imagine that death will come for them. Other people die but not them. But we cannot keep death out of sight and out of mind. The moment we are born, we begin to die.

In the prayer in the old form for the baptism of infants we read these simple words — "life is nothing but a constant death." Our own experiences testify that aging is connected with physical limitations and eventually death. As we age, we mourn the loss of friends and relatives. Before we were fifty, we were ready to climb mountains. At the age of 70 or 80, we are glad we can take a walk around the block. King Solomon observed the up and down curve of life. He described in full detail the breakdown of an aging body. "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth," he admon­ished, "before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them'" (Eccl. 12:1, 2). Physical deterioration, loss of hope, disillusionment, and loneliness are some of the factors that speak of deep spiritual needs. Seniors, who led busy lives, are all of a sudden put out to pasture at the age of 65, whether they are emo­tionally, mentally, or physically ready for it or not. Some find it difficult to make ends meet as they are forced to live on a fixed income, which is slowly devalued. A dollar prudently saved in the 1950s does not go far in 1999. In many restaurants you can't even buy one coffee with it. In 1950 you could buy ten cups of coffee.

Others fall into despair as their whole life had been centred on their work. Statistics show that the highest suicide rate among men is in the over-65 bracket. Some aged parents wither on the vine of loneliness and suffer from the failure of their children to give them moral, personal, emotional, and spiritual support.

Because of modern medical technology, people live much longer than in the past. More and more people live into their seventies and eighties, even into their nineties.

Our view of aging is also shaped by our culture. "Politically correct" people don't call the elderly "senior cit­izens" but "chronologically gifted." New Agers have developed a "human-potential" program for senior citizens. It includes techniques for enhancement of physical functioning and mental skills through yoga, martial arts, proper nutrition, and aerobic exercise. In our society many elderly are better educated, better traveled, and more inde­pendent than in any other period of history. Of course, I acknowledge that many elderly in our affluent society struggle with poverty and inadequate living facilities. Yet more and more seniors spend time in the mild climates of Florida or Arizona.

Some elderly are no longer inclined to pay much attention to what they wear. Others try to camouflage their age by dressing like teenagers. In his own inimitable and not very flattering way British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge reported on his month spent at a resort in Florida. He said that everything was done to make us feel that we were not really aged, but still full of zest and expectations; if not teenagers, then keenagers. These seniors, he said, had withered bodies arrayed in dazzling summer wear, hollow eyes glaring out of garish caps, skulls plastered with cosmetics, lean shanks tanned a rich brown, bony buttocks encased in scarlet trousers. Muggeridge's descrip­tion may be exaggerated. But it does say something about the affect contemporary youth culture has on our society. It has a negative and morbid view of aging. The older the person is, the less socially attractive he or she is.

The late American comedian Jack Benny was 39 for a long time. An extreme example was the disdain of the elderly in Hitler's Germany. Tradition had to loose its power; all the elderly were removed from key positions. The Nazis said, "When you have the youth, you have the future." The new Germany must be a young Germany. But Nazis' Germany didn't last too long.

The Canadian philosopher George Grant observed that old age is more and more seen as an unalleviated disaster, not only for those outside it but by those people who are old themselves. And he noted that we do not see age as that time when the eternal can be realized, and we therefore pity the aged as coming to the end of historic exis­tence.

Everyone wants to act young and appear young. And the advertisement industry contributes to this mood. Aging frustrates modern youth. It interferes with their desire "to get things done." Have you ever noticed the impatience shown in a line at a bank when a senior is trying to carry out a transaction? The slower pace often exasperates the clerk and the younger customers waiting for their turn.

The conflict between generations is a subject of much discussion. The Bible views this conflict as a judgment and an abnormality. When Isaiah pronounced judgment on Jerusalem and Judah, he said, "I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them" (Isa. 3:4). This generation conflict is also seen in churches today. Many seniors feel threatened by the rapid changes in their churches. Little is familiar anymore. Seniors have difficulties with innovations in the order of worship. They are uncomfortable with the new liturgies, the use of overhead projectors, the disappearance of familiar hymns, the decline of the second service attendance, the debates about women in office, the lack of knowledge of church history, church order, and proper decorum. But young people take it for granted when changes take place despite the input of the older generation.

Seniors don't like to call their "dominee" pastor Jack and his casual appearance when visiting. There is a strong emphasis on youth when a vacant church thinks of calling another pastor. It seems that some search com­mittees look for a 25-year old man with 30 years of experience. Many congregations have one or more youth elders. Why not elders who have the gift to minister to the elderly? And why youth services? Shouldn't we be consistent and have special senior services to meet their needs? I don't believe the elderly would like special senior services. Each Lord's Day we gather together for worship where God addresses us, His covenant people, young and old alike, through His Word.

The differences between the generations don't need to result in conflicts. Young and old can come to a mutual understanding and appreciation of each other. In the Kingdom of God, "Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children" (Prov. 17: 6). Old men dream dreams and young men see visions (Joel 2:28; cf. Acts 2:17). And God promises that He will be with His people of every age bracket. "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He Who will sus­tain you" (Isa. 46:4).

A Beginning, Not An End⤒🔗

In the early 1940s, Sundays in urban areas were vastly different from today. Former publisher John Irwin remembers that in Toronto "at Bloor and Yonge, you could walk down the middle of the street with your eyes shut and not get run over. Everyone was in church." In the late 1940s, around 50% of Canadian Protestants maintained that they were weekly-churchgoers. In 1993, barely over 20% reported that kind of involvement. The decline of church attendance is most noticeable among youth. The most devout and committed Christians today are 55 years and older. Sociologist Reginald W. Bibby comments that as attendance declines, along with personal commitment, it should surprise no one that knowledge about religion is diminishing. Canada has become a reli­giously illiterate nation. Seniors can either bemoan the disappearance of youth from the churches or accept it as a challenge. If seniors are only occupied with their health problems and can see no other history than their own, their life will lose much of its meaning. It is true that aging seldom comes without physical and emotional pain. But we are still to use our time wisely, making the most of every opportunity to service our Lord. (Eph. 5:16)

Old age is a blessing and not a curse. Scripture says, "Rise in the pres­ence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God" (Lev. 19:32) Someone commented that text demon­strates that we should allow the elderly the freedom to be involved in all of life as long as they wish. By pushing them aside "to the fringes of society, we diminish them and make our society the poorer through the loss of their experience and maturity."

Contrary to current myth about aging, seniors do not nec­essarily decline in intelligence or lose their decision-making abilities. History gives us countless examples of creative, active, and productive seniors. When Moses was 80 years old, God called him to lead His peo­ple to the promised land. At that greatly advanced age, Moses became the historian, orator, leader, and statesman of Israel. At about 85 years of age, Joshua was divinely commis­sioned to succeed Moses. At his death at 110 years of age he was deeply mourned and his eminent service widely acknowledged (Josh. 24:29­-31). At 71, Michelangelo (1475-1564) was appointed chief architect of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. After he was 63 years old, Holland's greatest poet Joost van den Vondel (1587-1679) wrote Jephta, Lucifer, and Adam in ballingschap (Adam in exile). George Bernard Shaw (1856­-1950), Irish dramatist and author, wrote Farfetched Fables at 93. Polish born Arthur Rubinstein (1888-1982) gave a stunning performance at Carnegie Hall at 90. Like these famous people, there are mil­lions of elderly people who are still productive and active in their own way and want to remain so.

Should seniors long to be young again? I don't think so. For Christians old age is not a dead end street. As we age, we can still grow spiritually.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wast­ing away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day" (2 Cor. 4:16). He said to the Ephesians that we can progres­sively succeed in putting off the old self and in putting on the new self and "to be made new in the attitude of our minds." This renewal through the Holy Spirit impacts our mental atti­tude, state of mind, and disposi­tion with respect to God and His world throughout our life. In other words, we continue to develop our walk with God (Eph. 4:22-24).

Dr. Viktor E. Frankl, who suf­fered unspeakable horror in Nazi concentration camps, says that there is no reason to pity old people. And he adds this remarkable statement, "Instead, young people should envy them." Why? Seniors have something young people don't possess. Frankl says that sen­iors have realities in the past ­— the potentialities they have actualized — the values they have realized — and nothing and nobody can ever remove these assets from the past. In Book X of his Confessions, Augustine (354-430) calls memory a "vast court" or "great receptacle." The elderly have a rich storehouse of memories, an inner landscape to explore: times lost in idleness, opportunities well used, a fulfilling career, chil­dren grown up, and sufferings gone through with dignity and courage. What an opportunity for our youth to tap into the memories of their grandparents!

Grandparents know the family traditions and values. They can tell the story of their immigration, its hardships and adventures, and the reasons for leaving their country of birth. Seniors can give to youth the lessons and spiritual resources that have been harvested over a lifetime. Our covenant youth need to hear from their grandparents and the seniors in the church what it means to be a Christian. Our times are so confusing and threatening for our young people. Why not explain to them that the Christian faith is for all of life: hence the founding of Christian schools and colleges, a Christian labour association, and a Christian political party? Why not tell them that doing good works is doing your work well? Why not testify to them how the Lord's promise "Surely I am with you always," (Matth. 28:20) is a reality and not a myth? The lessons learned from godly grandparents and other Christian seniors are often long remembered.

Some seniors have a phobia about aging. They see their lifespan as a curse of boredom and uselessness. Others see their retirement years as an opportunity for the pursuit of leisure. They spend their time in winter homes, away from their family and their local church. But from the Biblical perspective, seniors are a significant resource God can use for His Kingdom in these critical times.

Seniors can still do so much in reaching the world for the Lord. Some retirees are engaged in volunteer work for a mission agency. They spend time overseas assisting in some building projects. Others volunteer for inner city mission work in one of the big cities in North America.

The volunteers I have met over the years all testified how blessed they felt in Kingdom service in their retirement years. They still considered themselves useful soldiers in the Lord's army. Of course, not every senior is able to volunteer for mission or church work. Some have multiple health problems. Their physical dis­abilities limit them in their activities. Yet they can still engage in spiritual warfare as they pray for the advance of the Gospel around the world. Millions of unreached peoples are still held captive under the strongholds of Satan. Multitudes are blinded by the "god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4). Why not encourage seniors to think of the great ministry of prayer available to them? The younger generation can tell them, "You can spend time in prayer that we can't! You know more about the ups and downs in life than we do; you can pray specially for the ups and downs in mission work and for the council of your congregation. We need your prayer ministry!" A missionary leader wrote that one of his greatest fears is the lack of interest in missions by the praying and giving church of North America. Every week I receive via E-mail urgent prayer requests from mission organizations. As an old hymn says,

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters heaven with prayer.

Seniors can be brought specific prayer requests. The persecuted church requires constant prayer support. Our covenant youth need intercessory prayer. Someone wrote that no other population segment of Christians has more discretionary time for serious, global prayer than the experienced, mature elderly! Prayer offers a wonderful and powerful opportunity for Kingdom involvement.

As we age, we become more aware of the swift passing of the years. We can either let the fear of death put a mental stranglehold on us or look to the future with hope. The best is yet to come! We are strangers and pilgrims on earth, the older we become the nearer we are to our eternal home. We can identify with Martin Luther's suggestions that "in the purpose of God, this world is only a preparation and a scaffolding for the world to come." I also think of John Calvin's suggestion in his Geneva Catechism "to learn to pass through this world as though it is a foreign country, treating all earthly things lightly and declining to set our hearts upon them." We all face death some time or another. When we are old, it is more of a reality than in the days of our youth.

I pray that our attitude toward death may resemble that of Lutheran pastor, scholar, and resistance leader Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who with shining face in joyful expectation, said to the two Nazi guards who had come to take him to be executed: "For you it is an end, for me a beginning."