I was watching the DVD, “The Last Waltz” with the Band yesterday and Bob Dylan sang the song, “Forever Young”. He looked really young in the video and I couldn’t help but muse that the aging process has not been kind to him; he’s as ugly as an iguana nowadays. Too bad he couldn’t have stayed forever young.
Sigh… I have no room to talk. The aging process does take its toll, does it not? My arthritis is so bad this morning that my old busted up hands can barely type and my hips hurt when I go to sleep and awaken. I will need a glass of tea to get started in the morning and work up enough courage to look in the mirror and face the wrinkles and gray beard. If I didn’t need to brush my teeth and eradicate this bad taste in my mouth so bad, I might have been tempted to just forego the entire process this morning.
I was thinking about caterpillars and butterflies today, (please don’t ask me why). Caterpillars are just the opposite of us and our walk on this earth, in that they start out ugly and end up beautiful. They are born slimy ugly, and as larva crawl around with their spiny skins looking yucky. But then something wonderful happens and they experience metamorphosis and as butterflies take on wings and soar through the air in glorious splendor and beauty. Sounds like what happens to us as Christians, eh?
I once spoke at the Covenant House, an organization for homeless kids in Atlanta, and gave my testimony. After my talk a wonderful old African American lady came up to me and with tears streaming down her face hugged me and gave me a big sloppy kiss and then looked at my wife and loudly told her that she had married a big ol ugly caterpillar and God had changed me into a beautiful butterfly.
Hmmm I suppose that in due time the glorified body will come, but for now the Spirit of Jesus enables us to overcome our slimy ugly conditions as we crawl around through this dark old world awaiting our metamorphosis. One day in the not so distant future we too can take on wings and soar in glorious splendor and stay forever young.
I like the lyrics to Forever Young by Bob Dylan. Check it out:
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young . . .
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young . . .
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of change shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
I like the verse below better though:
Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.