A Time of Discovery

embracing aging as a gift from god

By Sister Anece Salay

So many times throughout my life, I wondered what it would be like to grow old. Then it happens, like fog in the night. All of a sudden, saying “Oh, I’m getting old” … or “I had a senior moment” … or “Can’t do what I was able to do a few months back” becomes reality. It creeps into our daily lives.

The beauty of it all, however, is in the new discoveries we make. We are able to look back on life with a new vision. No telling when we really realize it, but somehow, it dawns on us that life is not over. We have changed, as have others around us.

A new place, New ways of living religious life. New expressions in language, art, music, dance, cultural practices. Even new ways to worship. Imagine that.

Yes, aging is sometimes difficult, but it brings with it the possibility of looking back with new eyes, even if it is sometimes after cataract surgery! We can reflect on our fumbles humbly, smiling about how limited we’ve sometimes been as human beings. We begin to learn about the phrase “God is with us” and acknowledge how narrow our vision was in the hay days of our youth. We become aware of how good God has been to us.

Through so many others, God has touched our lives. Our eyes begin to open to the grace and wisdom of all those who have shaped us — old and young alike. We have journeyed with so many people — children, teens, adults, those with more, those with less, those with similar and different backgrounds from our own. We have been touched and enriched beyond measure by those who taught us about life, about love, about forgiveness.

The wonderful thing is, there are still roads to travel, tears to wipe, life to enjoy, people to encounter, and people to touch.

When the final chapter of our life story is written and the final thread of our life tapestry is cut, we will be in the caring embrace of our forgiving Creator. God is will us all along. All is forgiven.

In this aging process, we must be wise enough to realize that, with our aches and pains, in spite of our humble fumblings, we can still laugh and play, share and care, enjoy and love, sing and (carefully) dance. It is all still within our capacity to accept grace and wisdom, to recognize the moment, to offer the forgiveness that is needed and, when appropriate, to let go.

Aging? Yes. Alone? No.

God is with us. Still.