I was talking to a friend last week about learning how to maintain a chain saw, ‘but I’m too old to learn anything new’ came the reply. A friend tried to get her elderly mother to use an ipad so they could keep in touch, her response was ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’
Were they right?
Our brains at 90 plus, have a capacity to learn and store new information and skills. According to a study by Yale School of Medicine learning new things in your retirement years might actually increase your life expectancy. Another study showed that mental, social and physical engagement in community activities also increased lifespan.
We are also never too old to be used by God. Many times in churches and community groups I’ve heard people “ I’ve done my bit; time for a rest now.”
But does a rest mean doing nothing? To quote another saying ‘a change is as good as a rest’.
We were never created to ‘do nothing’. In the parable of the talents the servant that simply dug a hole for his money, to then give it back to his master was well and truly rebuked, whereas those who had actively worked their talents were praised.
Also look at the example of Moses. Living in an Egyptian palace for 40 years, his life is turned upside down and he ends up herding sheep in the wilderness. Then at 80 years old God has a new task for him, to go and lead the people out of slavery into a new life – which he did for another 40 years. Longevity indeed!
All of us need to be prepared to learn new things at whatever age we are, and embrace change, rather than resist it.