FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ REFLECTIONS ON GROWING OLD(ER) ~ 28 October 2018

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

REFLECTIONS ON GROWING OLD(ER)

Someone once said that we are now living in the age of age. In fact, there are more old people alive today than at any time in history. There are, today, more people over 65 in the United States than the entire population of Canada. Faced with these figures, and faced with the fact that you will someday be, if you are not already, in the category of the aged, the old, or the elderly, how do you, or will you, look upon the final chapter of your book of life?

Some look at age philosophically, like Jack Benny, who said: "Age is a matter of mind; if you don't mind, it doesn't matter." Some look at age sarcastically, like the wisecracker who said: "You know you are getting old when the gleam in your eye is from the sun hitting your bifocals." Or, as Bob Hope said on his 80th birthday: "You know you're old when the candles cost more than the cake." Some view age evasively, like the elderly couple in California who were stopped for speeding and when asked where they were going in such a hurry, replied, "We're escaping from Leisure World." Some look at age shrewdly, like Agatha Christie, who quipped that she married an archaeologist so that the older she became, the more he would appreciate her.

But what about scripturally? In the Book of Genesis, Abraham made a comment about his advanced years and how his faith was strong even at 99 years of age. St. Paul even once wrote of Abraham that, "He (Abraham) did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old . . ." While his body weakened, his soul grew stronger. St. Paul wrote: " ... he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God." (Romans 4:20)

Abraham didn't need any White House Conference on Aging to figure out how to handle the afternoon of his life. His senior years were the "Sabbath" of his soul, not to rest but to refresh. They were the garnering years, alive with rich possibilities for self-realization, a time of harvest, abundant and manifold. With the patriarch as a paradigm, St. Paul intimates that age is a time of spiritual enrichment, of growing close to God. The aging saint has no time for regrets. Age is the country he's always wanted to reach. The saints go marching in! It's the land of freedom: freedom from the striving of making a living, freedom from the strains of child-raising, freedom from the real, or imaginary, necessities of social acceptance, freedom from defining one's own status by occupation, income, and social approval, freedom to live where you want, do what you want, go where you want; and yes, freedom at last, to wear shoes for comfort instead of for style. Age, a la Abraham, is a time to sift for nuggets of meaning, to make psychic gains, and experience spiritual satisfaction, to add life to years, not just years to life. To try to link faith and age in any other non-productive way is to have as a motto: "In God We Rust."

LCDR Jeffrey Nordhaus, CHC, USN

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless our military men and women who have given their all.

Thanks, unique.

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR
TROOPS AND
OUR BELOVED NATION!

THE NAVY HYMN
"Eternal Father, Strong to Save"
United States Marine Corps Band and Choir
(Click)



The Marine Corps Verse:





A Blessed Lord’s Day To You And Yours!

[luvie]

Howdy, radu!

It’s been a good day all ‘round. Not much happening....and that’s how I like it. OH! I did figure out that Midnight was the one I designated as Lime earlier. He’s become a bully since he was fixed. He runs all the others away from the food dish while he’s eating. Stinker! Guess they’ll just have to fight back.

I wish it was warmer for you and cooler for me. It’s going to be in the 80s till Wed. or Thurs and I don’t like that this late! The mosquitoes will be biting again!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...good words for us. d:o)

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, tubebender, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Congratulations on your 85 years, and many more.

[lightman]

We had dinner this evening with some wonderful friends from church.

One man reflected on how, of those listed on a plaque thanking the building committee of just twenty years ago only a couple are remaining among the living, including him.

“And twenty years from now....” He could not finish the sentence.

The other couple? I have never known anyone so beautifully and reaslistically prepared for “a Christian ending”. Years ago they bought wooden caskets handcrafted by an Orthodox monk. They are presently stored upright in their living room, filled with Christian books and Icons.

What better reminders of the truth of Psalm 103 “man’s days are as grass....”

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, Fai Mao, and good Sunday afternoon.

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

[radu]

Glad it was a good day. Mmmmm, right now those 80s in your future sound reeeeeeeeal good! LOL! It was just a miserable day here, especially on the mountain. We’re supposed to have up 60s to 70 tomorrow through next Wed. and we’re looking forward to it.

I had it backwards last night. I guess it’s the angle but Midnight looked like the smaller of the two in your pic.
He must still be in a snit for what happened to him this week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...and a Blessed Lord’s Day and Shavua Tov to you and yours.

How is Blue? Still ready for the road? Is Penny staying dry?

Possible snow towards morning here, but daytime temps not good for keeping it. Ice in the making. ICK!

[luvie]

I hope it does warm up for you....especially if you need to get out in it. Otherwise just crank up the heater and snuggle with some kitties! :)

He must be in a snit. He never was this cranky before. LOL! If worse comes to worse, I can split the food into two dishes and let ‘em duke it out. LOL! Not that I want anyone to get hurt.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Military Families, for your service to our country.

John Conlee ~ They Also Serve

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, mountainlion...I’m not a fan of the side effects either.

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Is it still indian summer? They say rain turning to snow tonight with temps above freezing during the day and into the teens at night....YUCK!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Redleg Duke, and a Blessed Lord's Day to you and yours.

GROWING OLD A’N’T FOR SISSIES!

Agreed. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, wjcsux, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Excellence, Marine Mom, and a Blessed Lord Day to you and yours.

Hope your Marine is doing well.

[Kathy in Alaska]

To our Military -

Thank you for protecting us. Sleep well and safe.
May you be protected. May your families' hearts be at ease.

Thank you to our Allies.

**********************************

To those of our Military and Allies who gave their all,
- May your souls rest in peace. May your families be comforted.
May your/our country always remember.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, bert, and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

[radu]

Yep, some warmer temps will be nice. Gotta enjoy ‘em when we can get ‘em because it won’t be long before they’re gone for a few months. I never look forward to winter.

It’s probably due to him being so wild that he’s reacting the way he is. He hadn’t been handled before and the handling he got at the vet wasn’t exactly the best introduction to it. Poor lil guy.
He’ll calm down before long. But in the meantime, putting down a little food for him first, and the rest of the food for the others afterwards is a good idea.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, oldplayer...sounds like you are doing a good job of combining the 2 “minds”. Enjoy life.

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

[luvie]

I hope your winter isn’t too harsh this year. I hope we HAVE winter this year. Last year was just boring!

I think the two food dishes might be the ticket. Don’t need any food fights. Tonight, I would go to the door and ALL of them were looking up at me, tattling on Midnight. LOL! it was funny and pathetic at the same time. :)