Our last discussion on Assessment & Intervention of Relationship Disorder was about Aging and I am inspired to write something about it.

Aging like all other biological changes  is part of the natural processes of life and people have different perspective about it.  It inspired and still inspiring science to discover ways and means to reverse its effects or delay its arrival.  For many, aging is a source of fear or insecurity because it limits one’s capacity to do things or makes the person vulnerable to the threats of life.  While science is concerned about aging and how to deal with it, our faith teaches that aging is a part of life where one reaches ripeness and has acquired wisdom from the vicissitudes of daily living.   I remember the scripture passage in Ecclesiastes that says “there is a time for everything under heaven.  A time to give birth and a time to die.”  Existentially speaking, aging presupposes death, yet behind this stark reality, aging has something beautiful to teach us. 

I find it meaningfull to reflect on aging as the twilight of life.  Twilight precedes evening time.  As evening of life approaches, twilight gives us the opportunity to reflect and gather our thoughts how far have we gone with our life.  At twilight, the sky is filled with subdued colors of orange, golden yellow, red, purple, gray and lavender.  These colors transform the horizon into beautiful scenery that adds drama to the setting sun.  In similar manner, aging adds depth and color to the remaining years of a person’s life.  Aging is an opportunity for quiet meditation and examination of the life spent in busy and exciting occupations of youthful years.  For me, aging is not something to be feared of but a time of gratitude to the Author of life for the many ways we were blessed and given the opportunities to learn and acquire wisdom through the ups and downs of life.