THE RIGHT AGE: Are You, Is This?

My age is the right age.

At least that’s what one of my seminary profs taught:

“My age is the right age, and it increases annually.”

One of our Parish Ministry Teams consists of a group of ladies (occasionally a gent), along with a priest, who go together to call on those requesting a visit and/or the recently or terminally ill. On second glance, you must admit, that previous sentence is curiously — technically poorly — worded. Without a doubt, we are all terminal! And there’s no other occasion that reminds us of this quite like Christmas.

Recently, on one of the Visitation Team’s outings, we were accompanied by a little girl. My wife had a doctor’s appointment, which (probably due to age) I’d forgotten when scheduling, thus my youngest got to ride around with the Team. I’ve even gotten to that stage of life where I can join in the conversations about physical ailments, skin blotches, surgeries, creams, vitamins, and the like. In fact, on that day, I mentioned something I recently noticed about myself and one of the ladies said, “Father, it’s probably just Ay Gee Eee.” It took me a sec — A.G.E. — we laughed. This started the swap-a-woe dialogue where we all lamented our various ailments. After a while a four year old voice piped up from the back seat: “I had an ear infection one time!”

Even at an early age, we try to fit in, to find our place.

If you’re like me, you’re often tempted to wish you’d been born in another age — one with a little less of this, a bit more of that — leaning toward Virtue, goodness, Andy & Barney; fleeing today’s fickle flash, flesh and flunkies.

But, really. Age plays tricks on you.

For instance, this time of year, there’s lots of picture-taking. I’ve been known to see the most recent photo of myself and think, even say: “Gosh! That doesn’t even look like me!” Someone, maybe wife or kids will say: “Yes you do!” I’ll study the picture and think to myself, “Boy, I’m old … fat … ugly” … something. Years later I might happen upon the same picture and think: “Wow! Look how good I looked!” Or, I think to myself, “Hmm … I was skinny, young … handsome” … or some such.

Maybe it’s just me, but you really can’t judge by age. I wouldn’t trust pictures either. Watch the national news … “There’s bad news tonight … the country is bad … the president is bad … global warming … everything is bad (now a word from our sponsor).” The local news … “A murder today … a kidnapping too … a gun at school … auto accident … poverty … (now this).” The internet is certainly no better.

“My age is the right age … and it increases annually.”

This is true, not only for our individual ages, but the age in which we live. God knows what He’s about — which means we are placed right where we’re supposed to be. The earth continues to circle a star; thus, that age increases annually.

Ages ago, St Paul wrote:

When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry (Col.3:4-5).

Mind you, he’s talking to Christians here!

On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth (Col.3:6-8).

Sound familiar?

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all (Col.3:9-11).

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, I confess, it is true … we are living in the latter days. But when it comes to sin, transgressing the law, prejudices, falling short, and really making a mess of things — there is nothing new under the sun. It has been so in every age. And, undoubtedly, this side of Paradise, the same shall occur till the end of the age.

In the meantime, this is our time. This time, ever fleeting and often disappointing, is the time that God has given us. It may look better in the rearview mirror or in the crystal ball, yet both are an illusion. The time that we have is now. We, by God’s grace, are the light of the world — in our age, for this age — because we have entered into that Life which is the Light, none other than the God-Man, Christ the Lord.

Brethren, let us not be conformed to this age. Rather, whatever our age, this is our age to bear witness to the Light — Who has promised to be with us always … even until the close of the age.

And, in any age — at any age — that’s Good News.