Many people today are beginning to develop a positive attitude toward ageing, and that's pleasing to see.A geing is not a disease, but a normal process of life.

Friend, there are at least four ways that age can be measured: chronologically, biologically, psychologically, and sociologically. "Chronological age," says Bernice Neugarten, "is a poor basis for grouping people who have attained biological maturity. Study after study of the happiness, intelligence, personality, or health of adults has shown that chronological age is a poor index of the differences between people." Chronological age merely counts the number of years a person has lived, and may be useful for statistical purposes, but it is not reliable in measuring the functional capacity of an individual. Biological age can be used to account for physical and mental differences, psychological age takes into account the adapting capacity of a person, and sociological age measures the survival elements and social roles of an individual. Old age is a new experience for Western civilization. Never in the history of the Western world have so many people lived so long. More and more people are realizing that the last portion of the life-span is tremendously important, that we have more years to account for, and that we need to make them count. The years past 65 constitute a developmental period in which rewards and achievements can be great.

When you stop to think about it, so much of our working lives have been geared to earning to live instead of learning to live that we need to learn to adjust to a new way of life. Since retirement years can amount to as much as a quarter of your life, you should prepare for them just as you prepared for your 1st career.

The psalmist has said, "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree…They shall still bring forth fruit in old age" (Psalm 92:12, 14). Most of us appreciate that there is great satisfaction in doing any good work well, and the joy of doing your best is experienced in the here and thereafter. In one sense, we are ageless, and are never too old to live creatively.

Dr. L.C Sears, in "God's Keys to Happiness," says "Age possesses three worlds at once. It still possesses its youth, for all that was really good and worthwhile still lives, vivid in memory, and we can live it over with joy whenever we wish. But we also have the present, with understanding and wisdom, change and vision from the years gone. Then finally, we have the future, for it is now just within our reach."

Walter Pitkin wrote Life Begins at Forty and Walter Pitkin Jr. wrote Life Begins at Fifty, but people are learning now that life can begin at any age when they seek it sincerely. In his poem, "Ulysses," Tennyson says: "Come my friends,

'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the paths
Of all the western stars, until I die".

Friend, old age is not an end, but a beginning; not a penalty, but a privilege; not a defeat, but a victory, and "the last of life, for which the first was made," can be a many-splendoured experience. It may be that some of you who are reading this column today are experiencing some difficulty in coming to terms with your increasing age. If so, let me say this, it's not your age that's important it is your mental attitude. You see, inner security and happiness, at any age, comes from a sense of one's own worth and dignity as a child of God. You may be getting old, but if you're God's child, this isn't the end-it's just the beginning. He has given you "eternal life…in his Son" (1John 4:11). So never stop dreaming! Never stop believing! Never stop expecting that you will have A Better Life in Later Life!

If you would like a FREE copy of a booklet titled, "I'm Getting Old," we will be happy to send one to you. To receive your copy, just write to us at Discovering A BETTER LIFE: P.O. Box 1540, Albany WA 6331 or Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Be yourself. Nobody is better qualified.
Anonymous