Where Ought I Be?

I'm an old man now, I can't do nothing
Young folks don't pay me no mind
But in my day, I sure was something
Before I felt the heavy hand of time

I'm an old man now, bound for glory
Time to lay these burdens down
Had enough of this old world of worry
Gonna trade my troubles for a crown

I will make my way across the fields of cotton
And wade through muddy waters one last time
And in my dreams I come out clean
When I reach the other side
West of where the sun sets
Where rainbows never die

-Steel Drivers

This is not a sad post... I am not depressed-  sounds morose- and yes, my ego is always out of check. When you write about yourself and actually post it, the narcissistic critique is noted... but this is my blog LOL

I'm getting older... I can feel it some days. I'm reminded of William James' words:

 "Compared with what we ought to be, we are only half awake. Our fires are damped, our drafts are checked. We are making use of only a small part of our possible mental and physical resources." 

Those words resonate with me because I know how easy it is to fall into the routine of life, to settle into a kind of sleepwalking existence. But I don’t want that. I want to keep my fire burning, to live with purpose and passion, especially in this season of life.

Turning 60 has made me wrestle with what it means to age well—how to maintain the zeal and grit I’ve always had, even as the years go by. Caleb’s story has been a great encouragement to me. Here was a man, well into his 80s, who still had the drive to take on new challenges. He wasn’t content to sit back and rest on his past accomplishments; he wanted to take the mountains because he believed God wasn’t done with him yet.

So, what do I need to do to keep grinding with grit?

1. Maintain a Clear Vision: Just like Caleb, I need to keep my eyes on the promises of God and the purpose He has for me. Having a clear vision of what God is calling me to helps fuel my determination.

2. Stay Actively Engaged: William James’ warning about half-living reminds me to fight against complacency. I need to stay active—mentally, spiritually, and physically—so that I don’t become stagnant.

3. Seek Spiritual Renewal: Like Caleb, I want to draw my strength from God. It’s not just about physical strength but about renewing my spirit and trusting that God has more for me to do. Waiting on the Lord and seeking His guidance will keep me from burning out.

4. Cultivate Gratitude and Hope: Looking back on God’s faithfulness over the years gives me hope for the future. Gratitude for what He’s done and hope for what’s to come will keep me resilient and ready for whatever lies ahead.

You would think as I get older, I would have a bright spiritual fire- right? But I am often drawn to the old Keith Green song:

Lord, the feelin's are not the same
I guess I'm older
I guess I've changed
And how I wish it had been explained
That as you're growing
You must remember
That nothing lasts
Except the grace of God
By which I stand

AND Jesus
I know that I would surely fall away
Except for grace by which I'm saved

Lord, I remember that special way
I vowed to serve You
When it was brand new
But like Peter, I can't even watch and pray
One hour with You
And I bet I could deny You too

Well, nothin' lasts
Except the grace of God
By which I stand in Jesus
I'm sure that my whole life would waste away
Except for grace by which I'm saved