When did I get old? I think it sneaked up on me when I wasn't looking. I could definitely tell I was not myself in my early 60s. Minor problems I had never had before were popping up. Decreasing abilities, and increasing disabilities were showing up as I turned 70. Now that I'm into my eighth decade, I am informed, and I have to admit, that I'm not so sharp, that brain dysfunction is setting in. And my mirror has definitely got some distortions in it. This can't be my face I'm trying to shave around all these creases and bumps. I look around at some of the older folks at the senior center and I think, "Oh, oh. I am in trouble. Why did I want to live a long time?" and somebody answered, "Consider the alternative." And so I consider the alternative. Do I want to keep on living? The decades seem to fly by faster as body and brain slow down. When I count my-life span in decades, I have, maybe, one, probably less if I am average . . . maybe two if I should survive to very old age. And why should I want to live so long if the last years are very poor quality of existence? I believe the Psalm writer is right when he wrote Psalm 90:12 Teach us how short our life is so that we may become wise. I agree, life is very short, but is knowing that making me any wiser? And what good is being wiser if I know I will soon be gone? I might as well eat, drink, and live it up, because tomorrow I'm going to die. No I can't do that. I've already wasted too much of my life. There must still be something I can do that will have value. Though I have read many books, I have found that the Bible is the only one that gives me answers to this problem of aging. That is because it gives me an answer to the problem of dying. Despite what some scientists and philosophers say, I believe the Bible has the answer to relief from the fear of death and the uncomfortable living that precedes it. By believing the promises in the Bible, I know that I have a soul that will live forever. When this old body takes its last breath, my soul will live on and be given a new and perfect body. And that, dear reader, is what gives me the answers I need to the problem of old age and dying. So, no matter how I may look and feel, I am rejoicing in my spirit as I wait for the resurrection of my soul with its new body, to live in God's eternal kingdom. I no longer cling to this life as if it is all there is. When I am no use here, I know that I still have a fantastic future to look forward to. I pray that you, too, will consider putting your hope in Jesus.