...Strangely Dim

May 28

As we grow older, people change. Of course, our physical appearance becomes different. While we can still be recognized as the people we were in our youth, we no longer have the definition of feature or the intensity of coloring that we possessed when we were young.

Once fine bone structure is masked by ‘bags’ under the eyes and the sharp chin is camouflaged by two or three additional ones. Deep lines and wrinkles score our faces and our once muscular arms look more like the ‘wings’ of flying squirrels! Even those who were noted for their good looks in youth aren’t particularly attractive any more.

But—an amazing part of this transformation is that we no longer care about such things. Oh, yes, we want to present ourselves in the best way we can, but our focus is no longer on how we look—or what we own or how much money we have in the bank or how effective we are at our jobs. We are now looking to ‘retire.’ We have done our part and we know it’s time to pass the baton to the next generation.

As the Word says in I John 2:17, “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” As we grow older, our focus is on the eternal. Our efforts are channeled toward Heaven. Our eyes are more fully on Jesus. As the old hymn says, “…the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” Halleluiah!