Sitting here in God’s waiting room, the word “heal” keeps bouncing around. According to the Merriam—Webster dictionary, heal, means: a: to make free from injury or disease : to make sound or whole. b: to make well again : to restore to health, heal the sick c: to cause (an undesirable condition) to be overcome : Mend: the troubles … had not been forgotten, but they had been healed—William Power. d: to patch up or correct (a breach or division) heal a breach between friends. e: to restore to original purity or integrity/healed of sin.
Those are a lot of heavy definitions!
But what do they mean in our daily lives? To make free from injury or disease is a definition we all understand very clearly, A scratch on the knee when you fall down as a child. Burning your hand on the welder or possibly an auto accident. The injuries all heal and are usually forgotten except for a scar or two.
We all have experienced recovering from a sickness. You recover from a cold. Your stomach ulcers go away. If you are a female breast cancer, or a male prostate cancer, are cured through surgery and medication. Minor maladies heal and are soon forgotten.
We hear the term “nations healing.” Often the most difficult solution to a terrible problem. Threat of war healed with a signed accord, for example.
Sam makes a snarky remark about Joe's girlfriend. For weeks, even months they never speak to each other. Eventually, they decide it was just a mistake and they should forget the hard feelings between each other. The hard feelings are healed as they shake hands.
Depending upon your beliefs, being healed from your sins is the strongest healing power.
Very important definitions and results. However, nowhere in Webster do we see anything regarding healing old age. Often marked with Physical disabilities dementia and Alzheimer's disease, a condition that defies healing.
Old age is an interesting situation. One day you are cruising along, and it becomes time to retire. Retirement is a time much busier than when you worked for a living. The days are just not long enough for all of the things you want to do, but it is an enjoyable time.
Somewhere around the 70-year-old age mark it hits you like a bolt of thunder; I am old! Wow, it is the realization that you have entered the final phase of life, comes home to roost. How did this happen so quickly. Where did all the years go? What do I have to show for all that work? Many similar questions occupy the mind.
The term, “you aren't getting any younger” suddenly has very deep meaning. It ain't no joke anymore
There are daily reminders the corner of life has been turned. It starts when you get out of bed in the morning and your bones crack and pop like the old Rice Krispies commercial. You reach for the eyeglasses on the nightstand. The lenses have been strengthened as your eyes have weakened over the years.
Other than your morning necessary duties, the trip to the bathroom includes consuming approximately half of a pickup load of drugs and then putting in the hearing aids. Yes, the hearing has become much weaker too.
Walking to the kitchen for breakfast is an interesting trip. Your inner ears have controlled your balance since birth. Now they have died and along with them your balance. If a police officer was following you as you walked, he would immediately pull you over and grab the breathalyzer.
Unlike a like a cut on the hand that closes itself and grows new skin, old age just progresses. However, it is a time for great reflection. God has given you a great life. The bad memories tend to get weaker, and the good memories get stronger. You enjoy sharing the wisdom gained from living all those years with a younger person in the hopes you can help keep them from making a serious mistake.
Sunrise becomes more beautiful than sunset. The privilege to live between the two is precious. No, old age cannot be healed. However, you can use it to help heal those who are younger.
Just sayin’.