Reflection
I am a Christian. I welcome learning from people of other faiths and backgrounds. I do not dislike those who differ. One central belief of my faith is that after death I will face God’s judgment and receive resurrection and eternal life through Christ. A core belief of my faith is when I die I will stand before the Lord and give an account of my life—both the good and the bad. What I did not expect was for this reflection to begin so deeply while I am still living and growing older with each passing second.
This process has been eye-opening and, at times, uncomfortable. I have made choices I now regret, alongside others I remain proud of and would still defend. My life has been shaped by love, hardship, difficult people, kind people, and many others who, like me, were simply trying to find their way. It has been an ongoing experiment—bringing together unexpected choices into a life far different from what earlier generations of my family knew, yet still grounded enough in the past to adapt to the present.
In the end, one truth ties it all together: time has passed, and old age is no longer a distant idea—it is here. My experience of aging differs from that of my parents, which gives me a different perspective, but the journey still includes realities shared by everyone who lives long enough to face it. Much of it is unavoidable. Though the details vary from person to person, aging is a common human experience, and it is our response to it that distinguishes us.
The choice I am making is to live as long as I can, and to do so as kindly as possible. I want to extend grace to those who test my patience, even when that grace is not returned. I want to accept hardship with the belief that it can teach me something, to seek the lesson, and to value the chance to learn. And I want to look toward the next life with curiosity, believing that this life is only the beginning.