The Reverend Dr. Jason Curry, Columnist

            While reading a book on psychology to help a family in need, I stumbled across an insight made by Erik Erikson regarding the stages of life. According to Erikson, “Integrity vs. Despair” is the final stage of our psychosocial development. It is a blessing to grow older, and as we grow older, we will be unable to escape the following question: Will we continue to live lives of integrity, or will the natural course of life cause us to fall victim to grips of despair? Today, I want to spend a moment encouraging those who are in a fight to maintain their integrity and sense of connection with God as they mature physically in this life. 

            Both my grandmother and my grandfather attended the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City. My grandfather was in retirement; however, he wore a suit and tie to service, and he sang, on occasion, in one of the church’s choirs. My grandmother was also in retirement; she wore makeup and formal attire to the service as well. Their laughter, their attire, and their attendance in worship demonstrated to me that they chose integrity over despair. 

            In Romans 8:11, Paul says: “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” To be sure, growing older takes its toll on our mortal or physical bodies. Some of us cannot play sports with the intensity of college athletes, and sometimes completing routine tasks seems challenging. Our elders have also experienced unprecedented losses–the loss of family, loss of friends, loss of jobs, and accompanying coworkers. However, I am a witness that those who grew older with Christ often operated with a renewed strength, a mental tenacity, a spiritual fortitude, and a renewed enthusiasm for celebrating life. I continue to be inspired by choirs that have senior citizens eager to witness the goodness and power of God in their lives.

            As life moves forward, Paul affirms, and I agree, that there is new life for our aging bodies through Christ. If we invest with Christ today, we shall reap a return with Christ tomorrow. Our investment in Christ may be accompanied by personal sacrifice; however, Paul says: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).” 

As we grow older with God’s grace, let us allow God to renew both our minds and bodies through Christ.