Younger as You Age

Picture by Markus Spiske, Unsplash.

What is it that makes you age productively in life, that can make you say you've lived a successful life? Sometimes I wonder about this and weigh things people say are the marks of true success--most of which I later found to be myths.

Three days from now is my 60th birthday and as usual I'm gonna do my annual life recap with God in our quiet, secret place. Honestly, I don't feel old. Okay, I feel my physical strength weakened a bit but I can still do my martial arts moves with incredible speed and precision. I know my age--I'm aware that people see me as an old man--lolo na--and I know where to place myself in light of this, but that's just to give them space. That's how they think.

When I was young--probably 12 or 15--I thought being 50 was old. More so when I was in college and when I started working. And it felt like I was never going to be 50. Not me. I felt I'd always stay in my twenties or early 30s. How? I had no idea. It just felt like I wasn't one to get old--not that easily and fast, at least.

But at 50, I found that it wasn't a big deal, really. Almost nothing had changed. I was still athletic and stronger than most teenagers or young adults. I'd been teaching some young people Filipino martial arts and man, they were weaklings compared to me. I sparred with them and they gasped for air and were quite exhausted in just the first round, which was 3 minutes. The second round, they all mostly gave up. They asked for my secret. What did I eat? I told them food.

Now at almost 60, it's still not a big deal, except that I'm so excited about my SSS pension and seeing free movies after this Covid 19 crisis is over, and hope to get a discount on my MX-3 supplement. I look forward to getting a discount at the firing range, too. Is there? And I praise God for keeping me FREE of any medical maintenance. Imagine? It's a huge blessing, really, to enjoy good health and still be working out physically at 60 and it's all because of God's grace. You have to know how to access his grace in-depth and even get to your "secret account" which He has put up for you.

People believe you get weak, rusty and sickly as you get old. Some even declare old age illnesses will stay with them through life. Well, not me. I don't believe that. I believe God's promises in his Word and which I declare over my life. You'd be shocked how many Christians do not believe God's Word anymore. They'd rather believe their opinions, what they say and their human theology.

I believe in ever-increasing glory in all aspects. Nothing is impossible with God, my Jesus said.

I thank God for maintaining my broad-minded disposition, being patient and disciplined even in old age. I mean, not many are like that. A lot of folks my age are too proud, self-centered, difficult (if not a pain in the neck), narrow minded, spoiled and preachy or "lectury." They can't mind their own business, and instead of helping they blame and sermonize. They age backwards--tumatanda ng pa urong. That's not God's plan for us. The plan is to be like Jesus. To imitate God.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. [Ephesians 5]

But many in church don't believe this anymore. They believe in man's frailty. That's what they declare so it's what they get. According to your faith it will be done to you, said Jesus.

I found only a few old folks who were quiet, meek and low-profile, just listening intently to people and smiling, confidently contented so they no longer needed to prove themselves to people. Yet when they spoke it was full of wisdom, practicality, uprightness and compassion. Like my dad and mom. They were quiet, meek and gentle, happy and comfortable to be always in the background, but quite observant and reflective. When they spoke, people listened. People respected them for their quiet wisdom, not for anything else. Absolutely not for their money or possessions.

Old age is bound to make you ponder more on life than on ambitions, money, success or anything else, so once in a while I wonder what makes a guy really, really successful in life. Achievements, awards and trophies, positions, careers, books written, titles and degrees and riches and possessions all suck. Education is good but often it sucks, too.

Finally I decided it was youth. Aging and still feeling young is the true mark of success. More so, getting younger as you age. You are happier, relaxed, more daring and adventurous, carefree but careful, more open-minded and idealistic, at the same time holding on to wisdom and maturity that life and experience have taught you as you were led by the Lord. Most of all, remaining like a little child when you're alone with the Lord on his laps.

I remember my youth as the period I was simplest in everything. Plain white shirts and blue jeans were enough, plus a cheap pair of snickers (sometimes slippers looked more daring), hair a bit long, a knapsack perpetually on my back and books. I hanged out with street thugs, college dropouts and bums and figured in fights. We enjoyed food in carenderias, ate cheap cornicks, local spicy peanuts and other streetfood, fellowshipped in open parks, and went on vacation to far places with only a few pesos in our pockets. We didn't use wallets then which, to us, were luxuries.

And yet we were idealistic and full of dreams--especially for the Lord and the country. If you and your wife age and still have these things in your hearts, you have succeeded.