Old Man River and Old Man Dale
Monday, March 20, 2023
“Do not let what you cannot do, interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden
As of today, I am 63 years, five months, and 20 days old. That means that there is a growing list of things I can no longer do such as run fast or jump high. I need 1.25 “cheaters” to read properly and when someone is talking to me, I try to turn so that I can hear them speak in my left (good) ear and not my right (bad) one.
I haven’t played softball in a few years, but I think I would still be competitive if I took the field again and wouldn’t embarrass myself too badly. After all, my best years as a player were when I was in my late 30’s and early 40s, and I was still a pretty decent hitter as I approached my 60th birthday. However, my range at second base isn’t what it once was, that’s for sure.
On the basketball court, it is hard for me to defend a much younger player and my days of driving the lane are now mostly in the rearview mirror. But I can still shoot from behind the arc fairly efficiently and if I get in the proper position, I can also grab a few rebounds.
My point is this: instead of bemoaning the things I can’t do anymore; I choose to celebrate the things I still can. For instance, I am currently playing the best golf of my life, shooting in the mid 80’s from the white (not the senior) tees.
More importantly, I am getting better at understanding, interpreting, explaining, and proclaiming God’s Word than ever before. At least that’s what the all-too-kind people who attend Midway Bible Fellowship tell me almost every week. And my prayer life seems to be improving in both its depth and consistency.
Quite frankly, I am enjoying my life as much today as ever, surrounded by my wife of 38 years, our three adult children, and our six precious grandkids. I even have the added blessing of having my mother and one of my sisters living in the same RV community as us. The bottom line is that life is good… and eternal life is even better!
Like “Old Man River,” I’ve decided to “just keep rolling along.” How about you?
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
