“This statue shows a Christian woman who is old at death’s door. As she passes from this life to the next, she is no longer sick or old and does not carry the burdens of this mortal life. She is welcomed by her Savior into eternal life whole and strong to live forever in heaven.”
Perhaps you have seen this on Facebook, as I have. Looking at the down-slide of my life ahead, how ever long that will be, this spoke to me. Getting older, I have aches, pains and diminishing energy. I am faced with the reality that I just can’t do what I did at twenty, or even forty. And it frustrates me. To one day be out of pain and beyond the limitations of my body gives me hope. But does that mean I can’t have hope now?
I see my older friends in two categories:
1.They’re even more frustrated than I am and their conversations are what my mother called “organ recitals”= always about their physical maladies.
2. Or, they have a quiet contentment, which my mother also called “being thankful they still have parts, even though they ache.”
In fact, she had a plaque on her fridge: Age is Mind over Matter. If you don’t mind, what does it matter?
And that is where this wonderful sculpture errs, in my opinion. Physicality is so emphasized in our society. Youthfulness rules. Aging is taboo. Take this pill or have this procedure to halt it, you don’t want it. Stop it in it’s tracks. You have the right to feel young and energetic again.
Where did that come from? Other cultures honor their elderly.
Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? Job 12:12
Aging is a natural process. From the moment we are born, we age. Bodies and minds wear out, but souls do not.
I am not sure my spiritual body will be young, skinny and tall as depicted in this sculpture. I have never been skinny or tall here on earth and I always wished I had the metabolism of a cheetah instead of a sloth, so it would be nice. Living with chronic pain for decades, to no longer have that thorn in my flesh would be great as well. But that it temporal thinking.
There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. I Corinthians 15:40
Scripture says my spiritual body will be new, eternal and not subject to illness. I am not sure I will have legs and arms, long flowing hair, or even eyes and ears. What I do know is whatever shape my spiritual body is, it will exist to reflect God’s glory.
But in the meantime, God has use for me here.
I can do His will and reflect His glory at every stage of my life, even if I end up drooling in diapers. Yes, I have the responsibility not to abuse this body He has given me, but I also must accept it is a temporary shell which is made to wear out. That is not where my primary focus should be. Too many people turn fitness into an idol and food into a demi-god.
Aging doesn’t make me less a person, and it shouldn’t affect my attitude of gratitude. At every stage, I can serve in some capacity, even it is just to be a sweet, kind and patient person whose love for the Lord shines through her dimmed eyes and diminished memory.
Which person do I choose to be from now on – someone focused on her pains or someone focused on the One who suffered the ultimate pain for her so she can have life beyond this one? Will my main focus be on my feeble body or His glorious one ? The aches dwelling in my joints or His Spirit dwelling in my soul?
Which do you choose to concentrate on, and which will you reflect?
Where Did You Find God Today? 