GROWING TO BECOME OLDER

Catholic365    April  #4
Phyllis Fox Plum                        GROWING TO BECOME OLDER

 "I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging for bread" (Psalm 37: 25). Why is that?  While time changes things, God remains the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Isaiah 40: 8), and is faithful in His promises (Hebrews 10: 23). We are His cherished Children who He unconditionally loves, provides for, and wants us back in His world (Eternity).

Actuality, life has God-given rules that protect us. We learn as we grow. Though we are unskilled in speech, we are not in knowledge (2 Cor. 11: 6), and Truth is written on our hearts, but we are well-practiced in arrogance, narcissism, defending self-centered opinions (our own gospel), and seeking to "be like God" rather than obeying Him. Subtle counterfeits of Truth are traps found within the philosophies and practices of secular humanism, eastern mysticism and occultism, pushing against our innate search for answers, using our weaknesses and curiosity to trap us behind bars in empty caves, dark and depressing.

The do-right / avoid wrong program is written on our hearts; even atheists live with it. The conscience, moral consciousness, and freewill determine who/what/how we live as individuals -- and with others.

The senses favor what "feels" and "looks" good, and the mind remains a sponge, curious and inventive, seeking power, but we need a greater power than ourselves to protect, teach, guide and lead our spirit and our heart! Find that in the Blood of Jesus, His Name and the ways of the Holy Spirit! God is with us.

FACT:  Choices matter. In our youth, we resist rules. In adolescence, we explore. Then comes adulthood; it is dangerous especially if void of Sacred Scripture and Tradition; without His Word is without answers. Trials can be overwhelming. Without a solid foundation of Truth, we get hoodwinked, we enter a danger zone:  middle age, stubborn and too old to be open-minded to replace lies, myths and deceptions with Absolute Truth.

ADVICE: When we insist on personal preferences and independence, we excel in faults. For sure, be careful when self-resolving because we can give ourselves too much credit and self-rule. Avoid looking within the (fallen) self; it is a short trip to zilch; there is where we get stranded, injured, ignorant, naive, lost and weary. Let us instead grow to be aware of our destiny (heaven or hell) using the virtues of faith, hope and love AND especially remembering how we can do nothing without God (John 15: 5) AND everything matters. Look within only to find sins to confess.

Who needs God if they insist, “I did it my way”? No, we need our Father God! History proves that when we go-it alone we fail, we fall, we fall hard. That is the Adam and Eve syndrome. They turned their backs on the Creator to be independent and self-sufficient -- like gods. Control. Greed. Domination. Yet, the Lord supplies bread to the righteous: peace, promises and answers, comfort, guidance and protection. The Eucharist.

Who does not need revamping, a "do over"?  Regularly?  We are not as brilliant as we think we are, our opinions don’t advance the culture OR the self AND our feelings hold no authority. We aren’t perfect. Our greatest power is held in the freewill where the heart and mind work together like muscles. Getting it right requires a goal and training, like physical workouts in body building. What  guides the freewill?  It is the Holy Spirit's wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord.

What protects if there are no obvious walls shielding us from the evil treats and attacks? The answer depends on the focus. What stands strong in our choices? "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute" (Hebrews 4: 8), and worthy of praise -- until we die! If we are righteous, then we seek and find the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jesus Christ) as we grow to be older.

Actions and words reveal intentions and cannot be hidden unless we are skilled with lying and deceptive practices. One thing is certain: no one can build a wall or erect it high enough to hide behind, except in the mind. To think-up ways of constructing walls around the self is like living in front of broken mirrors with me-myself-and-I. There is no place to hide.

  "I can see you!"  

In each season of life we gather impressions, storing them in the conscience to maintain righteousness, to serve like an alert. It rings like a bell when decisions are needed. Know that it can be reprogrammed by outside forces; i.e., terrorist groups train young boys how to handle weapons and who to kill, stealing their innocence. All hostile, disordered, unholy and uncivilized rebels are in human form BUT demonic in spirit. "The hope of the righteous shall be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked shall perish"  (Proverbs 10:28). Let us pray.

No one sins alone. Live in the ways of the Lord so that righteousness shows-up in your descendants, blessing them with grace and mercy to the thousandth generation -- but if unworthy, all will be inflicted with punishment to the third and fourth generation (Deuteronomy 5: 9, 10). People don't change much from cradle to burial, nor from generation to generation.

As the sun shines brightly and the moon glows in the night sky, the evil-one seeks to diminish our dignity, beauty and holiness. In every generation, he strives to separate us from our Creator,  forcing us to relentlessly discern his evil presence, his influence and impact -- a constant assessment.

We, the restless, uncomfortable beings, living amid danger and strife, realize the need for rescue and recovery. Help flows through the Fruits and Gifts of the Holy Spirit, our guardian angels, the intercession of the Blessed Mother Mary, St. Joseph and all the saints, and especially the Blood and Name of Jesus, the Christ! That is a powerful list!

Our Father has given us great promises, and through them we honor Him, especially living holy lives with, in and through the supreme gift of His image and likeness (2 Peter 1:4). Like the growing cedars of Lebanon maturing over time, becoming vigorous and sturdy, may we do the same -- in holiness (Psalm 92: 14, 15).

Good begins early in life, flowing through prayer, sacrifice and serving others. Growing older involves getting the kinks-out of determinations, perception and conclusions, disappointments and troubling desires. If humility is present, then the learning, obeying and being righteous  comes easy. Be faithful as the Lord is faithful, "Even to your old age I am the same, even when your hair is gray I will bear you; it is I who have done this, I who will continue, and I who will carry you to safety"  (Isaiah 46: 4).