How to Age Joyfully: A Christian Perspective
When I was a kid, getting older felt like a grand adventure God had planned just for me. Each year that passed was a step closer to adulthood, filled with the promise of independence and freedom. I remember going to New York City with my dad, as he was an executive with Richfield Oil Company, and I would see groups of people laughing and enjoying lunch together. The plane ride, the board rooms, the taxi, and the hotel seemed so awesome to me. It seemed glamorous and full of life. I wanted my adulthood to include that version of success. I liked the friendships I saw my dad enjoying, and later, as I understood relationships described in the Bible, I couldn’t wait to be a part of it.
As a child, I never understood why people dreaded getting older. My friends and I would browse gag gifts at Spencer’s, and the “Over the Hill” section always puzzled me. Sure, my grandparents didn’t get into my music or understand my generation, but they had their own kind of cool, full of wisdom and grace. The jokes about aging didn’t resonate with me because I saw my grandparents as gifts from God, rich in stories and experiences, not crusty caricatures from another world. My Pop was my hero and still is. Charlie Allen will forever be what I imagined a real man walked like, talked like, and loved like.
In my 20s and 30s, I heard friends casually say, “We’re so old!” and I couldn’t help but chuckle. We were so young and blessed with health and happiness. Why waste that time worrying about the past? My 20s were a time of growth and freedom; my 30s brought even more blessings. My 40s brought challenges, heartaches, and trauma that I could never describe adequately. I found therapy, healed from traumas, and learned to communicate better with those around me. When I hit 50, I started to experience the new reality that I was already closer to death than just a few years past, but my 50s were good to me. I wouldn’t trade the wisdom and growth God has given me for fewer wrinkles or less gray hair. Not a chance! I would give anything to have had the wisdom that I acquired through the challenging 50s when I was in my 30s and 40s. But that’s not how God designed this aging thing to work, did He?
Now that I’m in my 60s, aging isn’t just a concept; it’s a reality. Reflecting on my life, I see God’s hand guiding me. My choices today impact my future, just as my past choices shaped who I am now. I wonder if my younger self could have treated my body more kindly. Yet, I find comfort in knowing that God’s grace allows me to make changes now that can bring joy and freedom in the years to come.
The world’s view of “aging gracefully” often feels like a burden. Society pressures us to look younger and act a certain way. But as Christians, we know our value isn’t tied to our appearance. God’s love for us doesn’t fade with age. Instead of striving to look young, let’s focus on the blessings that come with age. Embrace the wisdom, deepen our faith, and cherish each new day’s joy. Let’s celebrate the journey God has given us and find joy in every season of life.
I can say with certainty that I am enjoying my good old days right now. Apart from knee replacements, hearing aids, and cataract surgeries, this growing old thing is pretty awesome. I am now comfortable with who I am and what I am doing. There is nothing left to try and impress someone with, and living no lies is such a simple way to enjoy the journey!
My encouragement to you, regardless of your age, is to celebrate growing old! Enjoy the lesson learned, and don’t let the old man in, until he overpowers you! See Clint Eastwood for an explanation of “don’t let the old man in.”
Here are five ways we can enjoy growing older joyfully:
- Cultivate a Grateful Heart: Take time each day to thank God for the blessings in your life. Gratitude can transform our perspective, helping us to focus on the positive aspects of aging, such as the wisdom we’ve gained and the relationships we’ve built. Keeping a gratitude journal or sharing blessings with loved ones can make our hearts joyful. Every study on the planet says this is one of the most powerful ways to discover greater peace, purpose, and contentment. I’ve become a “gratitude evangelist” over the past few years. I know what this has done for my soul; I believe it is a critical way to grow old joyfully!
- Stay Connected with Loved Ones: Relationships are a gift from God that brings immense joy. Make an effort to stay connected with family and friends, whether it’s through regular phone calls, visits, or church activities. Surrounding yourself with loved ones who uplift and encourage you can make aging a joyful experience. I watched my parents grow old without many, if any, real friends. They had “church acquaintances” but no real friend groups with whom to share the journey. As a result, they aged more rapidly and became more lonely. I am blessed to have friends from multiple generations, many backgrounds, and various circles of influence and activities. My wife, Jenny, made that happen, and I’ll forever be grateful. I am contented, busy, purposeful, and joyful because I stay engaged with my friends! The woods are full of people in your similar boat. Get out there and enjoy meaningful relationships!
- Embrace New Opportunities: Aging doesn’t mean the end of new experiences. Seek out opportunities to learn, serve, and grow. Whether it’s volunteering at your church, picking up a new hobby, or taking a class, stepping out of your comfort zone can bring new joy and fulfillment. Remember, with God, each day is a chance to discover something wonderful. Read! Try new restaurants, food groups, and even new games. I was never much of a card player. My dad was certain that playing cards of any kind was a pathway to Hades. But I have friends in my neighborhood who regularly enjoy dinner and a card game about once a month. Another group plays trivia at a local brewery regularly. Who knew how much these friendships would mean to me in my 60s? Take 10 minutes each month set out a few things you want to do, and get after it. It will help keep you sharp, alert, and socially engaged.
- Stay Curious: Keep your brain hungry for knowledge and new experiences. Read or listen to a chapter of the Bible each day. Watch new shows from Netflix, including documentaries, how-to videos from YouTube, or movies that keep you sharpened and desirous of fresh understanding, including things you might not know anything about. Get outside and walk! Schedule an appointment with a therapist! Ask someone to go to a new coffee shop with you. Just stay curious!
- Eliminate Negative and Toxic Relationships: Life is much shorter now. Don’t give away your precious commodity of peace to negative conversations and toxic relationships. Build some fierce boundaries to guard and protect your soul. Do it today! I am convinced that every toxic, negative conversation, including the ones that I tell myself, steals hours from my life. I want to enjoy the rest of my journey and see God in every relationship. I want to be an encouraging, peace-filled older guy who loves being a part of healthy relationships filled with uplifting conversations. I now know that I attract what I am. If I want those relationships, I have to reflect and attract those relationships.
By focusing on gratitude, nurturing relationships, embracing new experiences, staying curious, and eliminating toxic relationships, we can truly enjoy the journey of growing older joyfully. Join me in working to be joy-filled “older folks” as we strive to age into greater joy. Let us find joy in every season of life that God has blessed us with. Don’t find yourself trapped in what you used to be. Embrace the now, with the aches, pains, greying hair, and all that goes with it. I can honestly say that I have never been at more peace with who I am than right now. I don’t have much, but I am so grateful for what I do have. I avoid toxic people like the plague. I am more curious and enjoying learning more than ever. I am enjoying relationships with people that are like-minded and with people that see the world through an entirely different worldview. I choose joy. I seek peace. I run from foolish negativity, but embrace diverse thought. Yes, I don’t look anything like the young athlete with a full head of hair and muscles that once defined my aching body. But doggonit, I am loving my life. Let’s break the cycle and enjoy a joyful aging, together!
Go in Peace, Chuck
