Earlier this week, on Ash Wednesday, we were reminded that we are dust and to dust we will return. Sacrifice, mortification, and turning into a pile of dust are certainly morbid concepts that our youth-centered society refuses to acknowledge. There exist entire commercial enterprises devoted to retaining our youthful appearance for as long as possible. Millions are made off our vanity and fear of aging. Dignified grays are dyed out of our heads and laugh lines are erased with creams and Botox.
Aging is natural; everyone will grow old and die and I see no reason to not embrace it. Growing old slows us down and allows a quiet reflective period not afforded to us in our busy young adulthoods, filled as they are with the responsibilities of work and raising a family. I believe God grants us the grace of becoming elderly so that we take those final years to draw closer to Him as we prepare to finally, and hopefully, meet Him.
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