Christianity doesn’t promise to add years to your earthly life, but it does promise to add life to your years. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10) Long life is implied in the Bible, however. The Psalmist sang, "With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation." (Ps.91:16) The fifth commandment states that loving your father and mother will result in the obedient’s days being “long in the land.” (Ex. 20:12)
It would be nice if long life was automatic and certain, but, of course, it isn’t. James compares life to a brief vapor. Jesus and all but a couple of the Apostles died in the first half of life. (Yes, by violence, but a violent death is still an alarmingly large possibility for the young in our day, too.) I delight in the many older adults and seniors in our congregation. Even though we all know the benefits of having children, youth and young adults in the church, we often overlook the value of the longer lived. Me? I’m a little selfish. I want to have more of all the above. Even as we strive to have a church that appeals to and disciples young people, we need a church that does the same for us older believers, too.
I recently saw this article about things we can do to live longer. It is not an exhaustive list. For example, I contend it helps one to live longer (and less painfully) by not stepping in front of busses, as Retta Nickell can attest! Be that as it may, read this and as Mr. Spock would say, "Live long and prosper."
Next time you’re asked, “Soup or salad?” order the salad.
Italian researchers found that eating as little as 1 cup of raw vegetables daily can add 2 years to your life. Why raw? Cooking can deplete up to 30% of the antioxidants in vegetables. To eat your quota, fill a ziplock sandwich bag with chopped red and green peppers, broccoli, and carrots. Toss the bag into your briefcase, along with a packet of dressing– the fat will boost your body’s absorption of certain nutrients,
Learn the Law of Lard: The fat you carry today could kill you tomorrow.
University of Alabama researchers discovered that maintaining a body-mass index of 25 to 35 can shorten your life by up to three years. (Excess body fat raises your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and colon cancer.) A Duke University study shows that sedentary men are 50% more likely to work out three times a week if their partners participate.
Crack open a fresh can of nuts and extend your expiration day.
When Loma Linda University researchers tracked the lifestyles of 34,000 Seventh Day Adventists– a population famous for its longevity– they discovered that those who munched nuts 5 days a week, earned an extra 2.9 years on the planet.
Never forget that your buddies have your back– even when it’s hunched over from osteoporosis.
In a study of seventy-somethings, researchers found that those with the largest network of friends had the longest lease on life. For the average guy, this could add up to 7 additional years of existence. Yes, some buddies may encourage risky behavior from time to time, but friendship ultimately provides more protection than peril. So try to learn a few new faces at work, trade lifting tips that gym, or simply say “hey” to that neighbor. You can all thank each other later.
Repeat after us: “There is life after retirement.”
Or at least that’s what you’d better believe if you want to live that long. In a Yale University study of older adults, people with a positive outlook on the aging process lived more than 7 years longer than those who felt doomed to deteriorating mental and physical health. Volunteer for a cause you’re passionate about: Selfless actions can put a positive spin on life and distract from unhealthy obsessing, reports a study in Psychosomatic Medicine.
See you in Church, APUMC!
Pastor Carl