Letting Your Light Shine

Well after touring about a thousand assisted living centers, and asking a million questions, and being completely overwhelmed, my parents reached a decision. They picked a facility, and if all goes as planned, they can move in Monday. They are fortunate in not having to sell their house immediately, so if they hate the situation, the house is still there. We start bringing favorite little things over today.

They already made a friend. While touring one of the homes, a very spry, nicely dressed woman with a walker stopped to chat with us. She was delightful, and lived in the independent side of the facility down the street from the one my parents chose. Get this. She was 98 years old, and still independent! She said she had buried her daughter three years ago, her husband died 35 years ago, and her only sister several years ago. I asked if she had any friends in the home.
"Not really," she said, "Because of my age."
She invited us to her room, but we ended up not having time. We had to dash to another appointment.

However, when we settled back in the car, I told my folks this was why God had brought them here. This was a ministry for them. Be a friend to this sweet old woman who had lost everyone she held dear in her life. They readily agreed. So, the next day, I called the home and asked if we could take M out to lunch. M just happened to be walking by the front desk at that moment. She was shocked that the phone was for her. She agreed instantly and ecstatically to our invitation. M is going blind, and a little shaky without her walker, but otherwise looks thirty years younger than she is. When we drove up, she was waiting on the front porch. We asked her about her favorite restaurant, and she remembered one she hadn't been to in years. It was one I also loved and hadn't been to since my college days.

We asked her zillions of questions, and learned she had raised horses in her childhood. She told us all about her life, wondering why we were so interested. I think she thought we had some ulterior motive. Soon it became clear we were just delighted to be in the company of someone who had lived nearly an entire century. She loved her lasagna, and had a good sized doggy bag to bring home. She asked for our phone numbers so that she could stay in touch. As I walked her back to the lobby of her facility after lunch, she hugged me.

"This has been a privilege," she said.
My words exactly.
"That was a kindness of you," I told my folks when I returned to the car. I think the Assisted Living Facility is about to be transformed when my parents settle in.

It is of course natural to look upon this stage of life as a decline in usefulness, as an unwanted and despairing event. However, CS Lewis looks at the often befuddling break-down of the aging body in a different light:
Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

 No matter what stage of life you are in with whatever indignities failing bodies throw your way, God always has a way to use you for good, for a transformative purpose. The incredulous delight of a lonely old woman my folks took to lunch is proof of that. Wherever God plants you, let the scent of His mercy and grace perfume your surroundings.
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Matthew 5:16 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Philippians 2:3-4 

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:1-30

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ...

Luke 6:31 

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

2 Corinthians 9:8-11 

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.