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October 30th, 2012
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You’re are NOT too old. You’re just Ripe!

It was only a few years ago that I dragged a lame excuse out of the closet to help me avoid getting involved in living again.  “I’m too old,” too old to take an art class, too old to exercise, to old to seek new adventures.  I used it even as I watched other people hobbling around on the same lame excuse when they could have been living.  Physical challenges certainly can affect how we do something or how fast we do something but rarely can age alone keep us from the simple joys of life.

In a previous post I told you about coming in dead last in the Tenderfoot Dualathlon race I entered in Colorado.  Let me introduce you to a guy who beat me.  John is 78 years young.  John did the entire triathlon!  He doesn’t swim like Michael Phelps, run like Emmit Smith or ride a bike like the Tour de France guys, but like the energizer bunny he just keeps going….  right past me!

If you no longer have to put up  with smooth skin, and pain free joints, and an insatiable desire to “LOOK good, if you have those lines in your face and gray hairs on your head that signify wisdom and experience. If you have no hair on you head at all, then welcome to a wonderful club.

You are now in a position to live, instead of make a living.  You are perfectly set up to share your rich source of life experience.  Embrace life whatever your circumstance.  Play the hand you now hold to maximum effect. You no longer face the disadvantages, of inexperience, uncertainty or good looks.  Your not TOO old.  You’re just RIPE!

Let me hear from some of you who are skating full speed on golden pond!  Encourage us! Encourage me!

 

 

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  • Alan Adams

    Retired from church ministry at 68 four and a half years ago. Took a course and landed an interim pastorate which lasted 21 months in a town 350 miles away from home. Last year was given the job of acting summer camp executive director, and still at it. Meanwhile served two other churches as transition pastor. Why quit now when we’re having so much fun?

    • Ken Davis

      Alan, I love the fact that you are still living and giving. At first I read your message that you had retired 68 years ago. I thought either you were the youngest person in ministry or now the oldest in ministry. Keep up the good work.

  • http://twitter.com/HeidiBylsma Heidi Bylsma

    I teach tennis to kids 10 and under. It is a blast. My co-teacher is Simon. He has more energy in his big toe than I have in my entire body. I was SHOCKED to discover that Simon is 89. YES…EIGHTY NINE years old. Seems impossible! He looks maybe 70. He always laughs and gives the kids a run for their money energy-wise. He waltzes for fun, fishes, plays poker, and has a girlfriend. :) He also confided that he drives at the speed that matches his age. GO, SImon, GO!

    • Ken Davis

      Heidi, What an inspiring story! Thank you for sharing it. I wish I could meet Simon!

  • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

    This story isn’t about me but my father.

    He’s a great man who raised two sets of children, One set of three was after he turned 55. Dad was always active, mowing the lawn, repairing the roof, keeping busy, and chasing after three kids.

    • Ken Davis

      Sounds like my dad. Joe! In the last years Alzheimer disease slowed him down but the spark of life was still there.

  • http://www.facebook.com/poppy.smith.33886 Poppy Smith

    Love your comments, Ken. My book, “I’m Too Young to be This Old” sold 150,000 copies and is being re-issued by Harvest House. Clearly, there are a lot of us who believe in living fully until it is all over! Keep going and letting God use your life, no matter what your age! Poppy Smith

    • Ken Davis

      Poppy, I am going to read your book. I love the title and the theme.

  • Guest

    I returned to college at age 50 after failing in an epic way 30 years ago. I have been back in school for 3 1/2 years now..I am a senior and I have a 4.0 GPA–only GOD!!

    I plan to graduate, retire from my current career at 55 (next year) and pursue the path the Lord would have had me on in the first place. He is a redeemer, restorer and repairer of dreams! It is never too late!

  • Laura

    I returned to college at age 50 after failing in an epic way 30 years ago. I have been back in school for 3 1/2 years now..I am a senior and I have a 4.0 GPA–only GOD!!

    I plan to graduate, retire from my current career at 55 (next year) and pursue the path the Lord would have had me on in the first place. He is a redeemer, restorer and repairer of dreams! It is never too late!

    • Ken Davis

      Laura, What an inspiration you are. What you have done is part of a dream for me. I want to return just to learn some things I don’t know about. Gonna move in that direction. Thank you for joining the conversation.

      • Laura

        Ken, Thanks for responding. My husband and I have loved your ministry since we first saw you are Creation NE many years ago! We are still going and we miss seeing you! I was hoping to be at the She Speaks Intensive this winter, but it hasn’t worked out for me to attend. I hope our paths will cross. I encourage you to return to school–although I do not know where you would find the time! :-) I’ve learned so much and like you, want to keep learning until my last breath. Thanks for setting the example. God Bless you.

  • GimpyRoger

    I retired 5 years ago at age 47 with a terminal diagnosis. This month alone I have participated in a deer hunt for those with disabilities and had a sucessful hunt. Of course my definition of sucessful is that Cindy didn’t catch me doing anything dumb or crazy on her camera. I also participated in a goose hunt for those with disabilities and survived an open topped blind in a torrential rain and although I dropped a bird Cindy couldn’t find it once it was down. Slow down? I’m not allowed to slow down in fact every now and then I have to look up the words inorder to remember what they mean. I hope that the rest of the month I can get a little rest before all the activities that have been planned for me in November, I think I might be out in the woods again a few times before the Thanksgiving holiday and then again at least once before the end of the year.

    • Ken Davis

      Roger, Knowing you is one of the highlights of my life. BTW I drank coffee this morning and it tasted like……. coffee!

  • Stephen

    Slow down…..I don’t think so…. I turn 60 close to the
    end of this year. I’m still 40 years away from middle age, and when I get there, or on the way there, I’m going out like my dad… on the ‘run’.

    When are you coming down under again?

    God bless

  • http://www.ericamcneal.com/ Erica McNeal

    “Physical challenges certainly can affect how we do something or how fast we do something but rarely can age alone keep us from the simple joys of life.” – This is so true at any age!! Loved this Ken!! =)