Fourscore and seven -- life is a sermon

After undergoing the meditation associated with one's celebration of an 87th anniversary of one's birth, the guiding principles come from Holy Writ. Not surprisingly, Abraham Lincoln often went to the Bible in his own writing, or the simple number in a biblical turn, as he did at Gettysburg. But what of the sermon?

Consider the length of one's years. "Honor thy mother and father," reads the Fifth Commandment, "that thy days may be long in the land the Lord thy God giveth thee." One did --- and does yet --- honor the folks who gave me my slice of life on a hot Sunday in August so many decades ago. This is evident when I total up the deeds --- and misdeeds --- and consider how much I have paid the several pipers who demanded their cut. One can consider this payoff as a sort of life's mortgage and the relief associated with being up-to-date and home free again.

Consider a promise made by our Lord Jesus Himself. "I go to be with my Father," He said. "And if I go, I will come again to bring you unto myself so that where I am you may be also."

Life does not end when the Grim Reaper has called to carry out his grisly mission. He Who conquered death has saved us in accord with His promise. Thus one can consider one's remaining years with equanimity "BRING 'EM ON!

One can enjoy the several petty annoyances associated with the advanced years, or learn how to tune them out.

Thus one learns how to savor life's small pleasures as time goes by. And remind his Lord, as did St. John the Divine in Revelation: "Even so come, Lord Jesus! To all us old folk: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"