Many years ago I heard the story about a conversation between two old men.

Bill is visiting Frank and as they sit in the living room he starts complaining:

“Frank, I am getting old. I keep forgetting things. I forget names, I forget what I was doing, I forget what I was going to say…”

Before Bill finishes the sentence, Frank says:

“Don’t you worry, Bill. I found these pills that are wonderful. I used to forget things as well, until I found this medication. You take one in the morning and one in the evening and your memory will be like that of a boy.”

“That is great. I can surely use something like that. What is the name of that wonderful medication?” asks Bill, sitting on the edge of his chair.

“Well… the name is… it is… How do you call that flower that is frequently red, and has thorns?” asks Frank.

“Rose?” suggests Bill.

“Yes!” says Frank, as he turns and shouts towards the kitchen: “Rose, what is the name of those pills that I take for my memory?”

Why are you laughing? We may not be there yet, but it will come. And there is nothing we can do about it.

Well… maybe there is. No, I am neither going to discuss the most recent anti-aging discoveries, nor the fountain of youth.

What I have been asking myself, and I am asking you now is: What are we going to do with the next 20, 30 or 40 years of our lives? Before our vitality and memory are gone.

Now is the time to use all we have learned and experienced. Time to teach. Time to share. Time to care. We can’t “grow weary” now. This can be our best time.

Billy Graham, who is now 95, wrote a book in 2011 called “Nearing Home: Life, Faith and Finishing Well” where he explores the aging process and challenges the readers to persevere. Dr. Graham says: “All my life, I was taught how to die as a Christian, but no one ever taught me how I ought to live in the years before I die.” By the way, he wrote two more books after that one.

So, what about you? How do you plan on using this phase of your life? How can it glorify our father?

Is this the time to switch from focusing on success to significance? It’s almost tomorrow!