Wednesday, June 15, 2005
CALLING OUT TO GOD
Contributed by Melanie Schurr
I'm in the process of reading a very neat book on midlife, called "If Not Now, When?" The book is about reclaiming ourselves at midlife, and its author is Stephanie Marston.
As I read from page to page, I can't help but snicker and nod because, as we gain a glimpse into the author's mind, we see a middle- aged woman coming to grips with her fears and insecurities over losing her youth. However, this is not a book about whining, defeat, and wishing to be young again. Far from that! It is a book filled with warmth, strength, determination, hope, and optimism! Marston actually makes getting older something to anticipate and embrace, rather than fear or despise, something a large portion of those of us forty plus years old sometimes do.
Don't believe me?
Think of how many men and women pay big bucks to have liposuction on droopy bottoms, bellies, and thighs. How many mature individuals crack open their retirement piggy bank to have a face-lift, rather than the condo on the beach they hoped for? Grey hairs suddenly become dreaded intruders that deserve to be yanked out by the roots! And, our skin, oh, how dare it betray us with age spots and wrinkles as big as the grand canyon!
We hear the word "aging," "mature" or, (gasp), "senior citizen," and we think of one foot in the coffin, NOT one foot in the cha-cha line at "Harry's House of Fine Libations."
What I really loved about Stephanie Marston's book is she lets us know that midlife is not only NOT dead, but it is like a rebirth; puberty relived, but in a way that is more satisfying and meaningful than before!
In my view, Marston's book helps the reader to gain an improved acceptance, not only over age number, but with the natural process of aging. Let's face it, aging is something we ALL will do, so why dread the inevitable? We might be able to temporarily stave off the wrinkles with surgery or miracle lotions, but underneath the flesh, blood and bones, we ARE what we ARE.
Learning to love ourselves, despite height, weight, eye or hair color, or any other external material that our Heavenly Father cares nothing about, is about realizing what is truly important in life, and what is merely fluff. What IS important is how well we have lived, and how well we have loved. This love, not only includes friends, family and relations, but our Creator, as well.
Today, I encourage you to set aside worrying about vanity, and to look for all the REAL beauty in life. Here's a hint. The first place to start is with calling out to God.
I'm in the process of reading a very neat book on midlife, called "If Not Now, When?" The book is about reclaiming ourselves at midlife, and its author is Stephanie Marston.
As I read from page to page, I can't help but snicker and nod because, as we gain a glimpse into the author's mind, we see a middle- aged woman coming to grips with her fears and insecurities over losing her youth. However, this is not a book about whining, defeat, and wishing to be young again. Far from that! It is a book filled with warmth, strength, determination, hope, and optimism! Marston actually makes getting older something to anticipate and embrace, rather than fear or despise, something a large portion of those of us forty plus years old sometimes do.
Don't believe me?
Think of how many men and women pay big bucks to have liposuction on droopy bottoms, bellies, and thighs. How many mature individuals crack open their retirement piggy bank to have a face-lift, rather than the condo on the beach they hoped for? Grey hairs suddenly become dreaded intruders that deserve to be yanked out by the roots! And, our skin, oh, how dare it betray us with age spots and wrinkles as big as the grand canyon!
We hear the word "aging," "mature" or, (gasp), "senior citizen," and we think of one foot in the coffin, NOT one foot in the cha-cha line at "Harry's House of Fine Libations."
What I really loved about Stephanie Marston's book is she lets us know that midlife is not only NOT dead, but it is like a rebirth; puberty relived, but in a way that is more satisfying and meaningful than before!
In my view, Marston's book helps the reader to gain an improved acceptance, not only over age number, but with the natural process of aging. Let's face it, aging is something we ALL will do, so why dread the inevitable? We might be able to temporarily stave off the wrinkles with surgery or miracle lotions, but underneath the flesh, blood and bones, we ARE what we ARE.
Learning to love ourselves, despite height, weight, eye or hair color, or any other external material that our Heavenly Father cares nothing about, is about realizing what is truly important in life, and what is merely fluff. What IS important is how well we have lived, and how well we have loved. This love, not only includes friends, family and relations, but our Creator, as well.
Today, I encourage you to set aside worrying about vanity, and to look for all the REAL beauty in life. Here's a hint. The first place to start is with calling out to God.
# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 3:35 PM 
