:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/5TA2D4SCUEE72RZBYLRBKOJ24M.jpg)
When the Pew Research Center interviewed 2,969 adults with the question, "When does old age begin?" the average answer was 68. Women said 70 and men, on average, said 66. The average desired life span was 92.
Survey findings confirmed that you're never too old to feel young. They found that the older people get, the younger they feel, relatively speaking. The gap in years between actual age and "felt age" widens as people grow older.
I found those results interesting.
In our home there is a sign that says, "Everyday is an Adventure!"
That's how I view growing older.
(Funny how the term "older" takes the bite out of "growing old").
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the upcoming election, local storms, or derachos, and other news, I view every day as a new adventure!
Each morning I pray: "Lord, what do you have planned for us today?"
It's an interesting time to be alive!
I admit to being a "news junkie." My husband and I watch the news several times a day.
Are we worried? Does it keep us from sleeping at night?
A definite "no!"
Why not?
Because we have a sovereign God.
It does seem that human beings have made a mess of things. That began long time ago in a garden, with a couple named Adam and Eve.
But there is a remedy.
Jesus came.
And He will come again, according to the Scriptures.
Do we believe that? Yes, we do.
During the beautiful fall weather, we are hosting a weekly Bible study on our patio. Yes, we "socially distance."
When the weather cools, we will move inside, with masks, and more social distancing.
Our friend, Kevin Flierl, a missionary with Greater Europe Mission, recently interviewed Don and me on Youtube. When I voiced my concern about looking "old" on the video, our granddaughter, Ashley, who is a social counselor in Battle Creek, Michigan, said:
"Embrace it!"
Good advice.
Sometimes I think I have "FOMO" -- that's the current phrase among the young for "fear of missing out."
That's why I try to maintain computer skills.
It's a time of great adventure, and I don't want to miss out.
When friends ask how we are, I tell them we are "happy on the hillside!"
We are blessed to live in a beautiful area with lots of trees.
Sure, we struggle with some health issues, like most people our age.
But "Alexa" sings to us in the mornings. And sometimes we sing along.
Our favorites are the songs of George Beverly Shea, who sang for the Billy Graham Crusades of the '50s. Just this morning, his familiar voice greeted us with the hymn, "Until Then," a favorite of mine:
My heart can sing when I pause to remember
A heartache here is but a stepping stone
Along the trail that's winding always upward
This troubled world is not my final home
But until then my heart will go on singing
Until then with joy I'll carry on
Until the day my eyes behold the city
Until the day God calls me home.
And so we happily begin another day in this exciting adventure of growing older! (or should I say "old?")
• Carole Ledbetter is a native Ottawan, author of two books and a speaker consultant for Stonecroft Ministries. She can be reached at tsloup@shawmedia.com.