The Joy of Graceful Aging: Mastering the Skill of Growing Old and Overcoming the Pains

By Obinna Akpata

Aging is an inevitable reality. It is often a gradual process in the last leg of our earthly life, and it is a transitory passage to the great beyond: eternal glory. It’s one thing to grow old, but it’s another to age gracefully in joy. In The Joy of Graceful Aging, author Obinna Akpata encourages older people to live beyond the challenges of old age, and the youths are encouraged to respect their elders for a reward of divine grace.
Rooted in biblical theology, Obinna discuses the emotional, social, and physical aspects of well-being for the elderly population. He examines the challenges that confront those who wish to live a normal life at old age.
The Joy of Graceful Aging acknowledges that aging has its hopes, its loves, its thrills, and resonating moments, and that those who live the purpose-driven life have nothing to fear. They can walk in divine health with positive faith, righteousness, trust, and obedience.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Nov 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483419343

Book preview

The

Joy

of Graceful

Aging

MASTERING THE SKILL OF GROWING OLD AND OVERCOMING THE PAINS

Obinna Akpata

Copyright © 2014 Obinna Akpata.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-1935-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-1934-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014917876

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 11/04/2014

Contents

Foreword

Chapter 1:   Hrm Old Age And The Greatest Miracle: A Poem

Chapter 2:   The Phenomenon Of Old Age

Chapter 3:   Living With Understanding

Chapter 4:   Finding Hope Today

Chapter 5:   Health Tips For The Ageing

Chapter 6:   The Challenge Of Old Age

Chapter 7:   A Winning Attitude

Chapter 8:   Gross Omissions And Failures In Government Policies

Chapter 9:   The Danger Of Dependency In Old Age

Chapter 10:   The Key To Dynamism And Relevance

Chapter 11:   Why Should Youths Fear Old Age?

Appendix 1:   An Inspirational Song

Appendix 2:   Words Of Wisdom For Graceful Aging

Appendix 3:   Our Heroes And Role Models In Graceful Living

Meet The Author

This book was written in honor of aging great minds who have positively influenced humanity through their inspired conduct and enduring remarks while living an orderly life, preaching the good news, emphasizing the overwhelming love of God: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI; retired Nigerian Cardinals Francis Arinze and Anthony Okojie; and all clergy and well-meaning individuals all over the world.

This book is a special gift

From

To

Date

Signed

The Word of God

For he who would love life and see good days,

Let him refrain his tongue

from evil,

And his lips from speaking

deceit.

Let him turn away from evil

and do good;

Let him seek peace and

pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord

are on the righteous,

And His ears open to

their prayers;

But the face of the Lord is

against those who do

evil.

(1 Peter 3:10–12)

An elder who cultivates wisdom and serenity in the light of truth,

who loves peace, freedom, and justice,

who prays for the younger generation,

who is brave in doing good,

who defiantly speaks against evil, abomination, and injustice—

such a senior citizen would ever remain relevant and blessed as long as he lives.

Obinna Akpata

To know how to grow old is the masterwork of wisdom,

And one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living.

Henri Frederick Amiel

FOREWORD

There is time for everything in life, says the book of Ecclesiastes: a time to be born, a time to age, a time to be and a time to be no more; a time to die (3:1). Aging is an inevitable reality. It is often a gradual process in the last leg of our earthly life, and it is a transitory passage to the great beyond: eternal glory.

In the Bible, old age is a blessing from the Lord, hence Hezekiah, when told his days would soon come to an end, begged the Lord to lengthen his days, and God extended his life (2 Kings 20). Everybody prays to grow old, for to die young is seen as a tragedy or a curse. Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed (Isaiah 65:20).

It’s one thing to grow old, another to age gracefully in joy. Growing old and spending a long life on earth is not something to be desired when it is spent in poverty, pain, sickness, and loneliness. Of course, life can be hard and even miserable during old age, when sight, strength, health, and wealth are no more and, above all, when a supportive, lively, and welcoming environment is lacking. Able-bodied adults who are supposed to be caregivers to old people are jobless, and retirees are neglected.

Even when a good environment is lacking, life can still be bearable in old age with the support of loved ones, family members, friends, neighbors, community members, religious organizations, and government and nongovernment organizations.

In The Joy of Graceful Aging, old people are encouraged to live beyond the challenges of old age, and the youths are encouraged to respect their elders for the reward of divine grace. It was born out of the author’s encounter with an abandoned old woman. He delved into the concept of aging, the challenges of aging gracefully, and the ways and means of aging gracefully amid the troubles involved.

Topics are treated in a scholarly manner and rooted in biblical theology. The author has done us a great favor, as this book is a masterpiece on the joy of graceful aging and how it can be achieved. I congratulate him for making this publication a reality, and his intention to spend 50 percent of the proceeds in helping to meet the needs of the aged is commendable.

Together, let us care for the aged!

Rev. Fr. Anthony Obadina, CMF

Former Parish Priest

Holy Family Catholic Church

Festac Town, Lagos

CHAPTER 1

HRM Old Age and the Greatest Miracle A Poem

His Royal Majesty Old Age!

May I talk boldly about the old age I know.

How dreadful you may sound

When mispronounced as odd age.

Yet that seems to be your meaning and import

Until the whole truth about you is revealed.

I was about thirty when I saw you at my grandparents’ courtyard.

I was amazed and discussed you with my close relatives.

They told me about your irresistible influence and apparent dominion;

Stealthily, you appeared and stretched your cold hand on my shoulder.

So youthful, I felt embarrassed and defiantly shrugged it off.

That shall never be my portion, I soliloquized.

You hushed in suspense;

I guessed you were not enamored of my fierce determination.

You never wanted me to be my own master.

I thought you heard my agitation, relented, and let go.

Little did I know that your astounding potency is unyielding

And far reaching, that I couldn’t hide from you

Unless I committed suicide. Abomination!

You continued to crawl,

Stretching your pernicious hands to get ahold of me.

The tragicomedy of your every move staggered my imagination

with bewildering incomprehension.

At forty-five, I had my birthday party.

You were not invited, yet I saw you boldly seated.

I was irritated, and you knew it.

But you were not perturbed.

Instead, you smiled cynically at my apprehension.

I was gripped by fear,

Not amused by your sardonic humor.

Also, I realized the closer you are,

The more I’m in for your trouble.

I needed all-round victory to overcome.

Relentlessly, you continued poking and poaching.

When I was fifty, you lured me into a busy hall.

It bubbled with fun and exuberant activities.

I was so happy

And was about to play some active and dynamic roles as usual.

Then you flashed your symptoms of infirmity

And feigned yourself not to be responsible.

Then I remembered the warning of my grandparents:

At fifty, one is neither young nor old.

This is a period for self-examination and introspection;

But I despised solitude and serenity.

Consequently, I feared how close you were.

Your horror hit me badly,

And I could not fix the problem,

Even in my gossamer dreams and illusions.

Then I was coming to terms with dissipating energies,

The reduced vibrancy and the grim reality foretold by the elders.

The exuberance of youths was almost gone.

I wished the blunders and recklessness will go too!

At sixty-five, in my friend’s funeral oration, you were so honored

Because the deceased lived three scores and ten.

Coincidentally, we were seated