My grandparents - Clark and Mabel DeLoach, circa 1960.
Last weekend Aaron and I were in my car running errands and he pointed to my dashboard and said, “You just past 100.” Rest assured I was not racing the MINI down Washington Rd. at 100 miles per hour. I am doing good to break 20 mph with all of the traffic. My car has now over 100,000 miles on the odometer. Turning 100,000 miles is really not such a big deal anymore. It wasn’t too many years ago that if a car or truck ever made it to 100,000 miles it was ready for the junk yard or Ripley’s Believe it or Not. To own a vehicle that made it past 100,000 miles gave you bragging rights for the next six months and an article in the weekly paper, right beside Earl and a picture of his 20 pound mud catfish. Now we just assume a car will last well past that mile marker. My niece drives the same car she bought used when she was 16. It has well over 200,000 miles. My dad recently retired one of his pickups and his best guess is that it had over 300,000 miles – at least that is what it was before the odometer quit working.
My car is doing pretty well considering it is over 100. As with anything getting older it has its problems. The power steering has not worked in six months, which is okay because it has really strengthened my biceps. Who needs gym membership? The air conditioner smells like a wet dog is taking a nap under the hood, which doesn’t offend me, but passengers prefer to ride with the windows down.
I guess it is like age. Do you remember when you thought that fifty was old and 65 meant that you had one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel? Some of the most active people I know are well beyond 65 while some of the most tired individuals I know are just in their thirties.
It is all on how you feel. I feel like my MINI is good for another 100,000 miles. Likewise, I am not ready to strike you off the active membership if you happen to have a little gray in your hair (assuming there is still hair to gray). Age and mileage is mostly a matter of taking good care, positive attitude and a healthy perspective.
How is your attitude? Do you feel like a 16 year old trapped in a 80 year old body? Or do you feel as though your odometer is about to pass 100,000 miles for the third time? The hope of the gospel is that we can align ourselves with the eternal God and be renewed for the journey. I hope to see you this Sunday where together we can discover the truth of the Psalmist who wrote that in the Lord, one’s “youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5). There is just something about being together that not only gives strength, it makes us feel young again.
Graying alongside you,
Greg
Yep, that is my dad, 1960. Nice car, but the pants???
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