I visited a friend in hospital yesterday and one of the things we talked about was the different stages of being old. Never knew this was a thing till recently. Here is how ChatGPT breaks it down:
Young-old: Ages 65–74
* Often still active, possibly working, generally in good health.
Middle-old: Ages 75–84
* May begin to experience more health issues and functional decline.
Old-old: Ages 85 and older
* Typically more dependent, may require more medical or caregiving support.
My friend’s definition, however, had the three stages at different age ranges: 61–70, 71–80, 80 and beyond. But the three stages were described in the same way.
I just turned 70. Based on my friend’s reckoning I am coming to the end of young-old and about to move into middle-old when I will possibly “experience more health issues and functional decline”. It is important to note that these stages are not rigid medical definitions but helpful guides to plan for possible needs at these stages of life.
We were clear that, finally, it is God who decides how we will age and how long we will live, but we have to be responsible to do our part and take care of our physical, emotional, relational, intellectual, and spiritual health.
Last weekend I preached at five services. This was at Wesley Methodist Church, Singapore. They are dear friends and they had asked me to preach on a biblical response to depression. (I get this request once in a while because I had gone through a period of clinical depression in the distant past.)
I preached at a service on Saturday evening, three on Sunday morning, and one more on Sunday evening. It was not five services in a row. The toughest one was the fourth service, since this was the last in a row of three that Sunday morning. In the case of the fifth one which was on Sunday evening, I had managed to get some rest in the earlier part of the afternoon, but then I had to rouse myself to preach again. And, of course, in between the services there were the pastoral conversations that are as important as the sermons, if not more so.
I don’t write out my sermons in full as I put a high premium on real-time engagement with the congregation. It also allows me to tweak the sermon from service to service based on responses from the people and nudging from the Holy Spirit. It also means that when I am tired, I will begin to forget points and illustrations. I hope the gist of the sermon gets across and that usually happens when you have a sermon outline and logical linkages between the points.
Still, as I looked back at last weekend, I did wonder how long more I could do five-service weekends. Not that I get such requests that often. Most weekends it’s one to three services. Functional decline? Well, it’s Thursday and I am still feeling a bit tired.
I am very happy when people tell me my sermons are simple. It means they understood it (I hope!) and that means they can share what they learned with others. Also, going forward, I need to invest more time mentoring younger pastors; something which is already happening.
Two things come to mind as I continue to mull over last weekend. One is gratitude. I can still do a five-service weekend! And that is but one of many blessings that God has given me. I think of my loving family and friends, the opportunities to do meaningful work, and having earthly needs, like food and shelter, met in abundance. Truly my cup runs over.
The other thing that comes to mind is stewardship. I know of friends, some younger than me, who are struggling with serious health challenges, or have passed away. I do not know how God decides on how our lives are to unfold. What I am called to do is to be a faithful steward of what He has entrusted to me. And this, with His help, I will do.
