Fear NotSample

I'm Afraid of Growing Old and Useless

In Jaques' famous "all the world's a stage" speech from Shakespeare's "As You Like It," he roguishly describes the stages of human life. He makes the final phase of life sound pretty grim: "The last scene of all, that ends this strange eventful history, is second childishness and mere oblivion, sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything."

The audience laughs, but it's a nervous laughter. We fear that what Jaques is saying is all too true. We are afraid of losing our sight, mobility, bathroom independence, and dignity. We fear becoming dependent on other people for things we've always done for ourselves. We are sad to be pushed to the side of the road as the parade goes by without us.

Solomon presents a similarly gloomy view of what old age does to the body. He speaks in unusual metaphors for muscles, eyes, ears, and teeth: "The sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark . . . when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim. . . . All their songs grow faint" (Ecclesiastes 12:2-4).

Lord, how will I manage when I am old? Will there still be a use for me?

(Read the next devotion for God's reassurance.)