Ageing with Grace

I recently heard about this 200 year old Jack fruit tree in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. What intrigued apart from the fact that it is historic, was the amount of fruit being borne by that tree. Fruit literally sprouting and hanging low for all to enjoy.

We all strive to be young , don't we? Look young, feel young, live young. No one talks about living old. This is probably because of all the things that old age has been connected with - decay, aches and pains, wrinkles, inability to move well, or even death. We rarely think of old age as an age of vitality and great impact.

When you look at this tree, it seems to me that old age isn't something one needs to be afraid of or even resist. It can be a time of great influence and impact if we continue to grow, learn and thrive through all of life's circumstances. Think of all the communities this tree would've been part of. The people who surrounded it. Many good, many bad. The wars it saw, the winds, storms, floods and damage it had to endure. But through it all it remains strong. Undeterred, refusing to be defined by its past but continuing to be a source of life and nourishment to all who pass by it. What can we learn from the jackfruit tree today? You have been called to age with grace, increase in fruitfulness as time goes on, learn from your failures, setbacks, the storms and resistance that has come your way. You have a choice whether to be bitter, vengeful, isolated, or to continue to let others feed off the many life-lessons you have to offer.

There's an old saying, "Youth is wasted on the young". If I were to be honest I would love to go back in time and speak some sense into my younger self. In those moments, I can feel a sense regret, shame and hopelessness seep into my soul. I think this image of the jack fruit tree is one to remember in those moments.

This is how Paul put it in the Bible

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

So if you feel old, afraid of ageing, or wondering what it's going to be like? Let me just say, "Your best days are ahead of you, if you want them to be."