A few weeks ago, we experienced daylight savings time. It was time to spring forward—we had to set our clocks an hour ahead. The time change was a signal that spring was near, which is in itself a time of renewal. Prior to this awakening, things were buried so to speak. Covered up by the cold, snow and ice. Leaves had fallen from trees, greenery had been limited, and nature had basically been asleep.
I am always re-energized by this time of year—there is so much to be encouraged about—even as the gray pallor hovers over the country and over us individually with the ongoing attacks on the very systems originally put in place to provide legal protections to us as a people. But still spring brings with it a new face, as well as new opportunities, and poses the question…what thing is there inside of you that needs you to breathe new life into it?
What better time to do it? There is a revival that comes with the onset of this season. The irony here is that for those of us entering this “free-space” in our lives, better known as aging, we are able to exercise renewal even moreso.
I do not believe it is an accident that this season of new growth all around us is also the time we acknowledge the drama of the Cross, and Christ’s ultimate Resurrection. God, in his infinite wisdom, was intentional as he came up with this season. As He is the creator of this time of this time period, he knew that buds were only taking a temporary respite and would come alive again as soon as spring arrived; that the leaves that had browned and crusted over during the winter would come forth again renewed, revived, green and beautiful again.
It is the same with us—we are called at this time to raise up something that has been lying dormant within us. As a person newly retired, or having entered into a certain age category, we have actually received a gift. There is a new freedom that comes with it; no work, no small children, no purchasing of milk and pampers; just time. Time to revisit the places in our lives that have been shadowed out by ties to work obligations, other time constraints, raising children, and so much more that kept us from more passionate pursuits.
No, this is not the time to become couch potatoes or withdraw into the confines of our home or senior high rise, or listen to the false narratives of others about having diminished capacity. You’ve toyed around with an idea for a book for years; now is the time, get to it. You had a business idea that you believe in, start looking into it now in this time of renewal. A man started cooking chicken and selling it along the highway because his Social Security was not enough to live on—he was 65 at that time and that roadside chicken business grew and became an international brand we’ve come to know as Kentucky Fried Chicken. You may not desire to get into anything that lofty; perhaps you want to utilize your skills and experience to support others coming along. So you are free now to hire yourself out as a consultant. The important thing to know that this is what re-awakening is and just as it is in mother nature, it is in us as humans.
Additionally, it has been scientifically proven that the more seniors exercise body and mind, the better quality of life they have. Physical movement and mental stimulation are the perfect combination for a long life. It makes sense that in this season as we look around and see spring take hold, that we would be on the lookout for dead spaces in our lives, see if anything is stagnant and inject it with new life. It could be writing, fitness, volunteering or starting a new business…we hold the key to an accelerated sense of self that comes with rising out of the gray places into the light.
Resurrection, renewal, revival are all terms that are synonymous with life expansion, new health and accomplishment. In this season of renewal, let’s take stock of where we are and remember whose we are. Let’s see if there is space in our lives that we can give life to and in doing so, create a chain of positive activity for all those whose lives we touch.