52 April 30, 2010
Posted by Dan R. Dick in Personal Reflection.8 comments
Age. What a concept. Yesterday (April 29) was my 52nd birthday, and I am contemplating what it means to be “middle-aged.” Yes, I realize I have BEEN middle-aged for some time now, but for me 52 is about the mid-point of middle age. Middle age seems to hit around forty, then give way to “older adult” around 62-63. I keep telling myself that if I don’t jump out of any more airplanes, I might just make it to 80. So, now, I figure I’m middle-aged middle-age.
A century ago, I would be old. The average life expectancy for males in 1900 was a little over 48. Today? I am old to all those under thirty and young to all those over seventy. I feel young (says he who spent the afternoon reading comic books/graphic novels) and yet I feel old (says he who broke his leg twice in the past four years and has a hard time getting up and crossing the room.Internally, I don’t feel any older now than I did in my twenties and thirties — I just feel more tired. I was such an active crusader when I was younger, and I cannot quite conceive of the level of energy I expended in those busy bygone days. And yet, I am on the go constantly, working hard to help as many people as I can strengthen and improve the ministries of our church.
