My Middle Ages

Christmas comes once again, filled with the joy, expectation, and sentiment of the season. It is a time for children, who fill homes with energy, excitement, and sheer joy. And it is a time for the aged, who cherish Christmas memories drawn from decades of Christmas celebrations.
(Albert Mohler, And Them That Mourn)

I read this quote and I was stuck. I am supposed to be planning my ECC assembly right now, but my brain must write.

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I suddenly feel that all I have left of life is to get old and then realize what life was really about.

Not to say that I have actually lived. I have not. But, I am past the age of awe-filled rapture and what is to become of me now? Nothing but further decay, various choices being made, and the onset of age (aka “the grave”).

What is life, but the end, and thus the discovery of what we have been doing and if it has been profitable (aka “God-glorifying”)?

I don’t think I like these unknown, middle years. How do I know if they will be profitable? How do I know if what I am doing is worthy? (Hold it up to the light of God’s Word.)

I know that childhood was meaningful, productive, and a thing to be cherished.

I know that old age will bring answers because I will have lived through and learned.

But, I know nothing of these middle years. There is too much variance and possibility of change.

In childhood, you can assume that you are growing and learning. That is your purpose.

In your latter years you can assume that you are even closer to death. You know that you have lived, what you have done, and you can evaluate.

What about the middle years?!

They tell us nothing until we have lived them -- and by that time we're past them.

And, good grief, there are so many of them.
(If the Lord allows us to have them all, of course.)