Signs of the Times

     The signs that I am growing old have been evident for some time now, the premature gray hair that I had in my thirties is neither gray nor premature anymore. Age spots and crepey skin have crept from my hands and are working their way down my arms to the bingo flaps that give new meaning to the seventies expression "hang loose". In the 1970's it was cool to hang loose, now, on the the long approach to my seventies, my body parts are hanging loose and cool is what I will be when I die. The signs that I am growing old are the size of billboards.     But what I'm really looking for are signs that I am growing up spiritually. It requires a magnifying glass, but I think I am seeing some.

•  I have stopped telling God how to answer my prayers. This happened, not because I figured out God is smarter than I, but the gradual realization that He had never used any of my ideas.
• I no longer ask God to tell me his will for someone else's life. Unless someone requests my advice (strangely, that seldom happens), I pray for God to reveal his will to them, not me. It is hard enough keeping track of God's will for my life, without trying to interpret what it might be for another person.
• This time, unlike two years ago, I am not whining about my unstable knee. I am not exactly thankful, but I'm not whining either.
• I AM thankful that the Lord changed my plan of having my right knee replaced this spring because that way I would not have had one good leg to stand on. I am also confident that whatever deficit remained in "Righty" has been taken corrected and noticed that "Lefty", which healed somewhat adducted (toed in) after my replacement, looks straighter.
• Another revelation through my rebellious knee was that, this time, I am not too proud to use crutches. Two years ago Reed had a hard time getting me to use a cane and even then I was wobbly. Perhaps that is more about old age than maturity, but I choose to believe it is the latter.
• I am not asking, much less demanding, that the Lord explain his purposes in allowing my trick knee one last (non)stand. It is a new knee, hopefully this is its last trick. But even if it is not, the Lord's purpose remains unchanged, it is for Christ's glory. I do not need to know what's in it for me.
• One thing that is in it for me, is good material to laugh at myself. If I have not got the hang of humility, at least I have humor to match my walk. Warped. With a little more arm swing, I could be an extra for "Planet of the Apes". As it is, I walk like an Orc. Though family members may not agree, I believe God gave me my sense of humor. It helped me thrive through a difficult childhood. I hope that gift will remain intact no matter what old age does to my body and brain.
• I have learned how to make a trust sandwich. I trust God. I trust God with our shaky economy, sinful culture, increasing Christian persecution, my children's future, aging parents, etc. I trust God.

     It is my prayer that as I decline in physical beauty, I will grow in spiritual beauty. A beauty that does not require a make up mirror to put on or a billboard for others to notice. Yes, I am growing old, but I am also, finally, growing up.