This past November I began my 50th rotation around the sun. Just like I noticed a change in my body during my early 40s (specifically my metabolism), I’m noticing the same thing as I enter into my 50s. I’m still working out like I was a year ago, but the results have plateaued. I wake up more days than not feeling stiff and sore. My eyes are beginning to fail me (readers are just a breath away). My teenage boys have passed me in most physical abilities (though I still got that old man strength). I have more grey hair than dark on my head and face (where I even have hair that is).
In short, I’m getting old.
To be clear there is no shame in that statement. I don’t think of myself as old, but I am aging. All the physical things listed above point to this truth.
This changes so much about how I approach life – in so many different areas. Scripture is one of these areas of life.
young + old
Just this month, as I read through the Apostle Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, I felt my age. In his writing, Paul addresses age throughout the three letters — younger men and women interacting with older men and women. Timothy and Titus are young leaders, so Paul mentors Timothy and Titus on how to pastor people both older and younger than them.
In the past, I read these letters from the viewpoint of Timothy or Titus. Here is a classic line from 1 Timothy where I identified with Timothy in the past:
“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12 NLT
I typically have thought of myself as a young man and leader, so I didn’t want to allow myself to be diminished as a leader because of my age. However, I no longer see myself as the young leader being mentored by Paul. I now see myself as what Paul writes to Titus:
“Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.”
Titus 2:2 NLT
My role has changed.
Like most people, I appreciate change that I control. I love to change job responsibilities when I choose the new function. I don’t enjoy a job change when my boss tells me I’m changing roles. But love or hate, that is now my job. I get to choose whether I embrace that role or grudgingly fulfill it.
I can’t choose whether I age or not. I simply am getting older. I do get to choose how I view my age. So, as I enter my 50th year, I choose to embrace my role as an older man and leader. And as with any role, there are ups and downs to embracing this change.
I’m not as hip on all the latest trends and terms. I’m constantly trying to catch up with what is going on in the worlds of my teenage and young adult children. The things I once was able to do physically, I’m no longer able to do. I’m not seen as young and vibrant by most people any longer. However, those things no longer define me.
I am sought for advice on a myriad of issues by a variety of people. I find myself counseling and caring for people like I never have before. I am able to speak to three groups of people with respect and authority. Those who are my age will always listen to someone their age and with similar life experiences. Those who are younger see me as an older and wiser person to seek counsel. Those who are older are now willing to give me credit for the life I have lived (both the wins and the losses) to this point.
I am embracing this role.
Embrace Your Role
I don’t know what role you are in, and how that might be changing. It’s very possible your role has completely changed in the past couple of years, and you may not love that switch. Your reward is choice. You still have the ability to choose to embrace your new role…or not.
One important note: As you embrace your new role, be sure to define what this place means for you.
As I read Titus 2:2, I realized my role meant self-control, respect, wisdom, sound faith, love and patience. In other words, I can’t be the jaded, mean old man. I will earn respect by controlling what I say and when I say it. I will display my sound faith with both love and patience for those I encounter.
Here are three quick questions to ask yourself in response to this post:
- What is your role?
- Have you embraced your role?
- Have you defined the requirements of your role?
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