Where Does the Time Go?

     

"I have been young, and now am old..." Psalm 37:25a

I've been noticing lately that I tend to become easily distracted...can't seem to stay focused on any one thing for very long...keep getting side-tracked and off course. Before I know it, I look at the clock and say, "Where does the time go?"  How can it already be time to...

• get ready for work, or 
• get ready for church, 
• get supper ready, 
• get ready for bed, 
• get up in the morning...?

It's not just time that I seem to lose, but it is also what I am doing at one moment, and can't remember the next.  You know, like:

• Now, why did I come in here?
• Ok, where was I?
• Where did I put that...?
• What am I looking for?
• Ok, I'd better get back to what I was doing before I interrupted myself...what was I doing?

And then there are those constant questions that I ask myself out loud...

• Now, why did I come in here?
• Ok, where was I?
• Where did I put that?
• What am I looking for?....

Oops, I think I already said that!  Ok, you get the picture!

I don't think there is anything to worry about. Almost everyone I know at my age has the same problem...if they would only admit it.  It's just becoming a bit bothersome.  I keep forgetting what I am trying to say here. 

I know I am not alone...this has probably struck a note with many of you. Old age is creeping up on us...waking up (not breaking up) is so very hard to do...you know, stretching the joints back into place so we can get out of bed, frequent wake up calls during the night so we can go you know where, turning up the TV or the phone so we can hear, oh, why bother to list everything...the list is getting too long.

I found it kind of interesting that The Psalmist, King David, had similar complaints:

"I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly;

I go mourning all the day long.

For my loins are full of inflammation,

and there is no soundness in my flesh.

I am feeble and severely broken;

I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.

Lord, all my desire is before You;

And my sighing is not hidden from You.

My heart pants, my strength fails me;

As for the light of my eyes, 

it also has gone from me."

"My loved ones and my friends 

stand aloof from my plague,

and my relatives stand afar off.

Those also who seek my life lay snares for me;

Those who seek my hurt

speak of destruction,

and plan deception all the day long..."

Psalm 38:6-12

For those of us who are fortunate enough to still be employed, we sometimes fear that the younger co-workers will be watching and waiting for us to make a big mistake, perhaps so they can move in and take over our jobs, citing our incompetence due to "old age".  It would be so easy to give in to despair and fear, throw in the towel and say, "Ok, I quit!" before we are really ready.

However, rather than giving in to paranoia and despondency, there is one thing I do know for certain:

"But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord;

I say, "You are my God,"

My Times are in Your hand."

Psalm 31:14-15a

And:

"I have been young, and now am old;

Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,

Nor his descendants begging bread." Psalm 37:25

I do not need to fear old age creeping up on me, nor do I need to fear what others may try to do to me...for I know that God is always by my side...and always ON my side. What I do need to do is:

 

"Trust in the Lord, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Delight yourself also in the Lord,

and He shall give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:3-4

I may not always remember what I am doing from one minute to the next...and I will always have questions. But I will not forget to trust in the Lord...He will carry me through to the next stage of life...and then someday graciously and lovingly carry me home to be with Him forever. Even if I do forget this, He will NEVER forget me!!! Now that's something worth remembering!!