GETTING OLDER - or - GETTING BETTER

From My Perspective - - -

Are you getting “older” or getting “better”? What is your outlook for your life? The Demographic Projections for the Aging of Americans are: “The number of Americans age 55 and older will almost double between now and 2030 – from 60 million today (21 percent of the total US population) to 107.6 million (31 percent of the population) – as the Baby Boomers reach retirement age. During that same period of time, the number of Americans over 65 will more than double, from 34.8 million in 2000 (12 percent of the population) to 70.3 million in 2030 (20 percent of the total population). The next generation of retirees will be the healthiest, longest lived, best educated, most affluent in history. Americans reaching age 65 today have an average life expectancy of an additional 17.9 years (19.2 years for females and 16.3 years for males). The likelihood that an American who reaches the age of 65 will survive to the age of 90 has nearly doubled over the past 40 years – from just 14 percent of 65-year-olds in 1960 to 25 percent at present. By 2050, 40 percent of 65-year-olds are likely to reach age 90…”

One reality that has taken place recently has been the Economic Trends in our nation and world. Retirement income has been greatly impacted and retirees have an unexpected and dramatic dilemma, namely, will it be possible to survive and maintain a reasonable lifestyle. One would be wise not to panic in such trying times. It is also essential that compassion and benevolence be an ongoing behavior. Some have found it necessary to return to employment so they can manage financial needs and obligations. A much broader question is – What kind of employment is available to the older adult (post-retirement age)? Does one have choices and alternatives? Will the market-place and society have room – make room - for an older adult re-entering gainful employment?

It is interesting to observe the accomplishments of a few who became engaged in important tasks in the latter years of life-expectancy: “John Wesley preached over 40,000 sermons and traveled 225,000 miles - these figures belong only to the latter part of his life, from age 36 to 88. George Muller is said to have traveled 200,000 miles, using his linguistic ability to preach in several languages to an estimated three million people. Muller’s statistics only began after his 70th birthday and continued for the next 17 years. Dr. Robert Lowry, renowned for many accomplishments as a Christian musician, first undertook the serious study of music after turning 40. Fanny Crosby was 43 when she found her life’s work – writing Gospel songs. Francis Schaeffer was little known until he was published in his fifties. Child Evangelism Fellowship was founded by J. Irvin Overholtzer, at age 62, and who remained at its helm for the next 15 years. Cam Townsend at age 72, founder of the Wycliffe Bible Translators, flew to Moscow (while it was under the rule of Communism) and began learning Russian to assist in Bible translation…

Other people and their achievement in the later years of life include: The Earl of Halsburg was 90 when he began a 20-Volume revision of English Law; Goethe wrote Faust at 82; Galileo made his greatest discovery at 73; at 65, Winston Churchill became Prime Minister for the first time during World War II; at 72, Golda Meir became Prime Minister of Israel; at 80, Grandma Moses (who began painting in her 70s) had her first one-woman exhibit; at 81, Benjamin Franklin mediated and moderated the US Constitutional Convention; at 80, Winston Churchill returned to the House of Commons as a Member of Parliament, and would also exhibit 62 of his paintings; and we’ve heard of Colonel Sanders, at age 65, founding his Chicken Franchises by using his $105.00 Social Security Check; at age 88, S. Truett Cathy was involved in overseeing the Chic-fil-A business, and teaching a Sunday School Class.

For those who embrace the Christian Faith and practice, consider: (a) "As thy days, so shall thy strength be..." [Deuteronomy 33:25]; (b) Moses began his task to lead God’s people out of Egypt after he was 80 years of age; (c) the words of Psalm 37:23-26, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast head-long, for the Lord upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.” and (d) remember Isaiah 40:31. God is Faithful and Good! He will renew your strength too!