Getting older doesn't mean becoming obsolete. It can mean growing, maturing, serving, ministering, venturing, enjoying ourselves to the end of our days. "Old men ought to be explorers," author T. S. Eliot said. One of my friends says, "Have a blast while you last."
To idle away our last years is to rob ourselves of what could be the best years of our lives and to deprive the church of gifts God has given to enrich it. There is still service to be rendered and there are victories to be won.
Some older folks may not have the energy or inclination for leadership, but they are an invaluable asset to the next generation of leaders. John Wesley was asked what he would do if he knew he had only a short time to live. He responded, "I should meet with my young men till the moment came that I was called to yield my spirit back to Him that gave it."
The psalmist also desired to pass along his understanding of the Lord to others, and he prayed, "When I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation" (Psalm 71:18).
We too should remain open to being used by God to enrich others' lives. Our greatest usefulness may be to pass our understanding of God on to others.
— David H. Roper
The longer we live, the more that we know,
Old age is the time for wisdom to show;
Who knows how much good some word we might say
Could do for the leaders of some future day. —Bosch
To forget the elderly is to ignore the wisdom of the years.