Walking in the Valley A bi-weekly column, featuring one Christian's (a)musings on life's journey by Barbara Dahlgren

Aging To Perfection Column for the weeks of January 1-15, 2007

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Well, here it is…2007. When I was young the years seemed to go at a snail’s pace. It took me forever to stop dating my school assignments with the previous year. When I became an adult, it took a while to stop dating my checks with the previous year. This year I started dating one check 2007 in December. That’s scary! I must really be old. Now years are whizzing by like I’m caught in H.G. Wells’ Time Machine.

I don’t mind getting older. Really I don’t! Many expensive delicacies are described as “aged to perfection” – certain cheeses, cuts of beef, old paintings, antique furniture, cars or jewelry and distilled spirits or fine wines. Although I prefer being compared to fine wine as opposed to cheese, the point is: if we are “aging to perfection” by maturing through gaining wisdom and knowledge, each year represents more than just being, as Tennessee Ernie Ford used to sing, “another day older and deeper in debt.”

Paul speaks of this maturing process from a Christian perspective. He says in 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child.” What do some children do to get what they want? Some cry, “Waw-waw-waw!” Some pout. Some throw tantrums. Some hit. Some say, “If you don’t want to play my way, I’ll take my marbles and go home.” Some sing, “Everybody hates me. Nobody loves me. Think I’ll eat some worms.”

Hopefully a loving, parental hand guides and trains a child out of such behavior. Unfortunately, some adults deal with difficulties the same way they did when they were children, just not as blatantly. They harbor feelings of resentment, bitterness, and anger. And yes, some still pout, hit, take their marbles home and want to eat worms.

However, when one becomes a Christian, a growth process starts. God the Father’s loving, parental hand guides us into grace and truth. We start developing fruits of his Holy Spirit such as: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). We feel a need to pray for those who hurt us, rather than wishing them dead. Even though we tell God our desires, we rely on his wisdom to guide situations. We pray, “Thy will be done” and more importantly – we mean it!

When we become an adult, we put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11). We are secure in our belief in Jesus Christ and are no longer infants tossed to and fro (Ephesians 4:14, 15).

When a Christian is “aging to perfection” the way God intends, facing another year need not be cause for regret about days gone by. It can be a time of rejoicing for what the future holds – and for praising our great God – who holds our future.

Be sure to visit this page often to read the next edition of Walking in the Valley. You can write to the author at bdahlgren@wcgsouthbay.org.