Aging: not an Illness to Cure, but a Gift to Celebrate - LPNI

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Aging: not an Illness to Cure, but a Gift to Celebrate

LPNI Health Topic – October 2021

We are living in a world where growing older is seen as a problem to be solved rather than a gift to be celebrated. Our personal health itself is at risk if we continue to accept this growing mindset that aging is a disease to be cured rather than an opportunity to serve the Lord and his people. How can you and I change this “tsunami” by helping each other see age as “merely the number of years the world has been enjoying us?”

This mindset is a major health problem for many. We need to change our perceptions from seeing aging as a burden to shoulder to a responsibility and opportunity we can embrace. Too often, we see “old” as negative and “young” as positive. We continue to treat and teach the young through an asset-based approach, and do ministry with older adults in a deficit-based manner. We affirm the positive in young people by training and teaching as we should, but at the same time, we focus more on older adults’ deficiencies, needs, and waning physical and mental abilities.

In the U.S. alone, some 10,000 people turn 65 each day. We are all aging. More of us are getting older. More of us are getting older, longer. That is why I love to point out that the Lord must really love older people – because he’s making so many more of us!

Our “climate” towards aging must change. The need is for people like you and me, and especially those of us in health and healing ministries, to change the way we think, act, portray, talk, and look at older adults … starting today, with ourselves! Our goal is to see aging as a blessing to celebrate rather than a burden to bear!

We also need to disrupt the negative climate of aging, starting with the young, emphasizing the positive in all people, regardless of age. Sadly, our Western society has “trained” us to see aging as a negative. A major part of this problem is in the minds of us older people ourselves! We have been “trained” by our culture to see aging as a negative; to “retire”, and not do as much as we once did, and to “get out of the way” and let younger people lead. Just check out the Hallmark cards store and see the mindsets that birthday cards promote about aging.

I love the Japanese saying which had hung on the wall of the old Wheat Ridge TB Sanitarium in Denver, for years: “The setting sun is no less beautiful than the rising sun!” How true!

This is an Ah-Ha moment for us adults! Now is the time to listen to ourselves and how we talk to, treat, and describe older adults. Now is the time to spend more time with those younger than us as well as older. Now is the time for older adults to “live out loud” by telling others about their hopes and dreams and joys, as well as their aches and pains. Now is the time to celebrate the fact that aging is a blessing, for all ages! Remember: aging is the only way to live!

Let’s continue to celebrate together as we laugh, love, learn, and even lean on the younger and the older around us!

Thanks, Lord, for the gift of aging! The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy! (Psalm 126:3 NIV)

Dr. Rich Bimler, Ministry Consultant

336 West Hampshire Drive, Bloomingdale Il. 60108

RBimler@gmail.com