Some Thoughts On Aging

WED., JAN. 26, 1994, 12:40 PM
OFFICE, PULLIAM HALL

This afternoon you will offer a class some observations on aging, in the context of your Wellsprings model. You haven’t studied this subject much, but you definitely are in the process, and observing others who are farther along than you are. You felt the need for a Teaching, and so here is one, on the very subject you’ll speak on later.

Aging is a natural process, but variable effects in those experiencing it. Technically, each individual is aging from the time she reaches full growth and development, in the teens or early 20’s. Yet for most the signs are minimal, those of youth and well-being and full functioning being more obvious. Then there is mature adulthood… and middle age. Individual signs of dysfunction can appear during these years, but along in the 60’s these become more common and expected.

The human organism is well-made, basically. Yet there are weaknesses in some that have some hereditary base. That is, a weakness in an individual may be passed on to a biological offspring, and when both parents have such unfortunate genes, aging can be short, painful, and frustrating. Why are there such weaknesses? Mostly because of adverse reactions to environments, for while the total non-human environment is supportive of human life, it was not created just for humans. Is the need for spiritual growth a factor? You know it is.

There are some scientists working today on ways to prolong full human function and individual lives. Some of these are dedicated and aware of My influence in life. Others are just arrogantly investigating what seems to be a “hot topic” and are interested mostly in furthering their careers. A few people live productively into their 90’s. Others, like your parents, continue to care for themselves, but find this to be a virtual “full-time job.” Most who live this long show so many signs of aging that life is mostly painful, physically, emotionally, and socially.

As I have told you often, My secret for aging gracefully is through increased relationship with Me and an increasingly spiritual view of life. This is often in stark contrast to a “medicalized old age,” when the main focus is on disabilities, medical diagnoses and treatments, and too much attention to self. In general, you will just live longer and happier and healthier if your emphasis is away from yourself – on others, on animals or plants, and, of course, on Me.

I enjoy contributing to the lives of such people, and I even help extend such lives, occasionally. But, fundamentally, I am very little interested in the prolongation of individual lives. The Psalmist heard Me offering three score and ten… and perhaps another ten. I still say this is sufficient for most people. The resources of the earth have a final finiteness, and I see no spiritual reason for expending these to extend the aging process further. This, of course, could be a rather simple remedy for the spiraling cost of medical care in your culture… but it would not tend to be popular, now would it?

Now I’ll also have to say that while aging has been extended somewhat by medical technology, social institutions, and other technological features of “modern life,” the environment that this lifestyle creates can also be hazardous to health, resulting in a shortening of the aging process. Findings about individual chemical hazards, for instance, can be interesting and can result in some healthful changes (as is now happening with cigarette smoking), but in this lifestyle one hazard is likely to be replaced with another. And such a balancing is all right with Me. For, as I said, I have no compelling need to have most humans live longer than they do.