The Unhurried Heart - How Age Teaches Us to Be Still and Still Moving

When I hit 35 I had what you might call a "life meltdown" of sorts. It hit me hard...that I was halfway from 30 to 40. To my 35-year-old self, 40 was old. Like ancient old! At 35, I was halfway to 70, which was one foot in the grave (or so I thought).

But this year I turned 50. And I am ok with it. My kids all joke about me being old, I do feel older from time to time...I have aches and pains that I never experienced before. But instead of being bothered, I am more inspired today than I have ever been to serve the Lord and to love people. Today I came across a quote from T.S.Elliot...who writes a powerful reminder to each of us that are aging...a reminder to fight age contentment...the urge to sit back and enjoy the years of wisdom. No. He calls us to move forward. "Be still and still moving."

This is a concept that we struggle with on two fronts. First, when we are in the thick of life, we struggle with being still. Life is busy, kids are active, and parenting is a daily sacrifice of self to serve your family. It is hard to find time to be still and to learn of God's goodness, love, and mercy. But then we get older...and as our bodies become a little more tired each day, and as we begin to acknowledge our mortality...we slow down. We could even allow our service to the Lord to come to a stop.

We have learned enough. We have served enough. We have given enough. We have sacrificed enough. While there are some exceptions, many of the Bible characters that we see doing great things for God...did them in their latter years!

• Caleb...at the age of 85 wasn't content to sit back and enjoy watching the youth fight his battles...he wanted that mountain!

• Moses...didn't start his most significant ministry until he was 80.

• Abraham...was called to leave his homeland at the age of 75 and follow after God.

• Elizabeth and Zechariah...were "well along in years" before they had their son, John the Baptist.

• Paul...his most profound and powerful letters were written in the twilight of his life as he was awaiting death in prison.

  
  

Be Still...And Still Moving

I am not writing this in response to the tragic events of the past few weeks...although it would be fitting. No. For me, this is bigger than that. Four weeks ago, Lorrie and I sat down and we brainstormed the goals that we have for the next 10 years. When I suggested we sit and have that discussion, she got a good chuckle...said that this was typical of my overplanning tendencies! But then we sat at the kitchen table and gave thought to the legacy we want to leave.

I don't want my life to be lived by accident. I am too lazy. I procrastinate. I have to set goals because that is what keeps me moving forward. I have to write things down. I need to move forward...because the opportunities that the Lord has given me are too valuable to waste.

Until the day I die, I desire to "be still and still moving."

Lord, keep me still, but keep my hands to the plow. Help me serve you more today than I did yesterday. Give me the strength to point more people to you in the years ahead than I could have ever imagined. Help me willingly follow the path you lay before me.

DJH