Aging Challenges

 "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity." Eccl.1:2

I have reached a point in my life where there is not much left on my bucket list of things that I would like to do, or at least try. Everything that I currently do I have done before. I have heard so many sermons that it is rare, for me, to hear something new. I am happy to do my part, to help where I can, in church or with my family and friends. I am grateful to be where I am in life, even if I have been here before.

Why does middle age drive us to try new things? Men try new hobbies, or new careers, or new wives. But the harsh reality of life is everything new becomes old in time. The thrill of the new becomes the routine of the familiar. Leaving your wife is hard the first time, not so hard the second time, and easier every time after that. The grass is may be greener in the next pasture, but it is still just grass.

Even old king Solomon thought that new relationships would ease his weary mind, so he amassed wives and concubines trying to find peace and happiness. He tried new religions. He tried new experiences. A life spent looking for new things is an empty life.

I suppose the best thing in life is to be content where we are and with those whom God has joined us together with. Be grateful not to be alone, or not to live in isolation. If you have new things to try, have fun trying them. And when the dust settles and you find you are not further along than you were, well, I told you so!

Pastor Mitchell seemed to spend the last years of his life just doing over and over what he knew to do. His life was pretty routine toward the end. And so will our lives be, no matter how hard we try to change that.

This is a part of aging that no one prepared me for.