The Grace of Growing Older

Some months ago, I decided to stop using the beard wash I'd used for years, which covered up all the grey hairs on my face.  It happened because I'd gone for a while without using it due to travel, and I looked at myself in the mirror and said, "Why bother?"

The fact that my fiancé thought the beard looked better in grey also played a role in that decision, to be fair. But still, it was a milestone.  

I don't feel any older because my beard is grey, but I do feel older when I attempt to do some physical activities that used to be much easier, and my joints pop and creak in the mornings when I get out of bed.  

There's a quote by Mark Twain that I was reminded of as I write this: 

“Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.”

This quote resonates with me in many ways.   It reminds me that each day is a gift, and we have no idea what tomorrow may bring.  Aging is part of life, and Time comes for us all in the end, so why not live each day to the fullest?

That being said, I still feel a little punk rock attitude lives within me, and probably always will.  In a culture that celebrates youth and offers all kinds of ways to try to stave off getting older, what's more punk rock than embracing the aging process as a sign and symbol of being fully alive?

This is where I feel like putting on my Ramones t-shirt, ripped black jeans, and my battered Converse All Stars, and blasting my Classic Punk Rock playlist as I drive to the grocery store.  

But the fact of the matter is, we spend enormous energy trying to remain young, hide signs of age, and avoid confronting the passage of time. Yet Scripture consistently portrays aging not as failure, but as a source of wisdom.

Psalm 92 declares that the righteous continue to bear fruit in old age. Proverbs speaks often of wisdom gained through experience. Simeon and Anna, both advanced in years, recognize the significance of the Christ child when others do not (Luke 2:25-38).

Age does not diminish a person's value.

In many ways, it deepens it.

Growing older teaches lessons that youth cannot provide. We learn that some things matter less than we once thought. We become more patient with uncertainty. We discover that perfection is impossible and that relationships matter more than achievement.

Of course, aging also brings losses.

Physical strength changes. Dreams evolve. Goodbyes become more frequent. Yet within those changes can emerge a deeper appreciation for the gift of each day.

Mark Twain's observation reminds us that growing older is not merely something to endure. It is a privilege.

The wisdom of limits invites us to accept the seasons of life rather than fighting them endlessly. Every season has gifts. Every season teaches something important.

The challenge is learning to receive those gifts with gratitude.

Life moves quickly. The years pass faster than we expect. Yet each stage carries opportunities for growth, service, joy, and meaning.

Perhaps wisdom is not wishing we were younger.

Perhaps wisdom is learning to be fully present to the season we are living in now.

Prayer

God of every season, help me embrace the gift of growing older with gratitude and grace. Teach me to find wisdom in experience, beauty in change, and purpose in every stage of life. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What lessons have you learned through the passing years?
2. How do you feel about aging and why?
3. What gifts might be present in your current season of life?