I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14, 16,17
I remember a friend’s 50th birthday lunch when she passed a comment about becoming invisible due to her age. A couple of years behind her, I had never imagined such a thing, but the comment has stuck and never quite left me.
Although away from home, I have kept in contact with our church, which may not have happened if we had experienced our journey out of lockdown and been able to move more freely about the canal network and become involved in local church services. An idea in my head for a supportive group via Zoom for new parents is just taking off but I have to admit to feeling slightly put out when the group was mentioned, giving acknowledgment to the young mum I had approached to run it with me, whilst ignoring any part I had to play! Examining my feelings I came to the conclusion I was put out because I felt unappreciated and invisible.
Prue Leith, at 80, refuses to be made to feel invisible and delights in wearing bright colours, bold jewellery and funky glasses. I applaud her. She’s still a very capable woman who does not let her age, which is just a number after all, stand in her way. Why should we who are well into the second half of our lives feel we no longer have anything to offer, that youth is more attractive and exciting? As we get older we can jump out of the box, be our own person, care less what other people think of us and be comfortable in our own skin. We can draw on our experiences of life to show wisdom and discernment in many situations and rejoice in our ability just ‘to be’ rather than feel we have to be doing all the time.
If the world is going to make us invisible we can take heart from the fact that the Holy Spirit is invisible too. When Jesus returned to heaven, God promised that he would send us a helper who would always be with us only we would not be able to see him. Amazing things are accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit at work within a person. So perhaps those of us feeling dejected at the thought of becoming invisible as we age should think of ways we can still harness our gifts so that age is unimportant and we know we still have value.
Writing a book, playing an instrument, enjoying sport, painting a picture, sewing something beautiful, cooking delicious food, the list is endless in the ways in which we can still shine, still be seen, still make a difference in the world in which we live. We do not have to settle for invisibility just because we are getting on in years. The best is yet to come ………
PS I realise there are many other people who are also made to feel invisible by the world and in doing so, often end up feeling worthless – the homeless, the disabled, the misfits, the mentally unwell, to name just a few. God created us all in his image and he made each of us uniquely and he loves what he made. So if ever you are feeling invisible take comfort from the knowledge that God loves you just as you are and to him you will always be visible and precious.
The Lord will work out his plans for my life – for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Psalm 138.8
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