“Our Last Years Should Be Our Best”

”You know Al, you’re not getting any younger”. When my co-worker would hear that line, he would turn red and say, “well who IS getting younger … are you getting younger…. tell me, who is getting younger…”. It was a sore point for Alan.  Msgr. Prus, a retired priest in our parish, was recently in the midst of his homily and  commented, “ Gee I’m not getting any younger… in fact I’m getting older….. and with a chuckle, he then said, NO, I’m not getting older, I’m old !”  My co-worker and my friend Fr. Prus had a different view on getting old.

Moving into old age can bring a lot to the surface. The devil is always sneaking around, pushing us to reorient our history:

• on one hand exaggerating our past accomplishments- “Dave, you were truly a great athlete, your brilliant academic honors, and your heroic military career rivaling Audie Murphy, not to mention your Hollywood good looks, and of course your saintly virtue …… hmmmmmm.
• then moving  to the opposite extreme ……  “Dave, let’s be honest, you’ve never done anything of any value…. nothing that really ever amounted to anything ….to tell you the truth, you’ve been an unmitigated failure since day one…. a lousy husband, father, friend…..you’re a bum; don’t even think about heaven as your destination….. “ 

Okay, I admit that the above is a bit exaggerated, but we can get tempted in our older age and can become confused. 

Yet the truth is that God is not done with us as we get older. Our life is not over. In fact, I would propose that “our last years can be our best years.” We can experience new victories in holiness. I’ve experienced much conviction of my faults and sins and self-centeredness in the last several years….. not condemnation, but sweet conviction… experiencing God’s mercy and hope and victory.

As we age, we have more opportunities to embrace truths more deeply, to get to know our self more fully, to show love and mercy to others, to help those in need, to pray and intercede, to assist the dying.

Within our limitations of health & aging, our last years can be our  best years. Our  presence and countenance should be filled with joy, laughter, and victory. We can become more and more transformed into God’s image & likeness. And in these moments our words and actions can help transform our children and grandchildren, friends, and enemies. We have been preparing for this time for our entire life and our last years can be our best years. And this is very good news.