Senescence, a lovely word, comes from the Latin word senesere, meaning ‘to grow old’. It is all about our gradual deterioration as organisms: ‘the condition or process of deterioration with age or loss of a cell’s power of division and growth’, so its meaning is not quite as nice as the sound of the word! None of us particularly relishes ageing and it can be very daunting to face increasing fragility, whether that is physical, mental or emotional. Certain ‘age’ milestones (hitting 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and so on) may leave us feeling depressed, insecure and melancholy as we look back at what we have achieved and look ahead with apprehension. We may feel we have not used our time wisely or be plagued by regrets; we may look back nostalgically and wistfully at the past, seeing there our ‘glory days.’ We may look ahead with trepidation, unsure as to how our bodies will cope with growing old and how we will carve a meaningful identity for ourselves after work or if we are isolated by physical ailments.
Life is made up of different areas, defined by some as ‘quotients’. These are:
- PQ – physical – Human Living – To Live
- IQ – intellectual – Human Doing – To Learn
- EQ – emotional – Human Being – To Love
- SQ – spiritual – Being Human – To Leave a Legacy
It’s unwise to focus on one area only; we have to realise that life is not just about what we know or what we can do, but also involves our ability to forge relationships and to love.
The exciting thing for Christians is to realise that even though we may face ageing and deterioration in some areas of our lives, this is not the whole story. Paul tells the Corinthians ‘we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.‘ (2 Cor 3:18) Whilst we may deteriorate with age in many areas, spiritually God continues to transform us into his image and renew us on the inside: ‘Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.‘ (2 Cor 4:16) As we progress with God, we learn more of His faithfulness and character: David reminds us ‘I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.‘ (Ps 37:25) We also learn that our value and worth do not depend on our ability to do things for God; we absorb the truth that ‘the only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.‘ (Rom 12:3, The Message) That can be hard to grasp when we are young, vigorous and full of energy, but God’s unconditional love and acceptance for us are not dependent on our age or ability.
Today, let’s pray Eph 3:16, knowing that our inner strengthening comes from the riches of God’s glory and not from our own strength!