How Being Old is Cool to the Young

I don't know if there are too many things that aren't more pathetic than a bald-headed old guy driving a Mazda Miata while sporting a ponytail. There is just something about getting older and denying it that just isn't cool. But there is a time when being old is cool.

Over at Reformation21, one of my many favorite blogs, you'll find this little essay reminding us that old isn't necessarily old-fashioned. Interspersed with some humorous observations are some timeless spiritual insights.

I recently visited a church where the average age was 25. It's a booming church, growing by leaps and bounds. It is listed as one of the top 100 fastest growing churches in the U.S. I felt antiquated as I took in the sound (loud), the music (edgy), the use of video (I think I had a seizure in the middle of the service), and the preacher's vocabulary (there were words there that had the opposite meaning of what they meant a generation ago).

But then I caught myself. I had something that most of the audience didn't have. Experience. And good experience to boot. My faith had been forged by the crucible of life and my understanding of grace, mercy, justice and redemption were as deep as the ocean. I could make my home in this church and offer a valuable service.

I loved the energy in that church. I would recommend that church to anyone. Their vision and passion is second to none. Many churches grow in intellectual understanding of the will and plan of God, but lose their excitement of serving the Savior. I hope they maintain their zeal as they mature so that they won't be spiritual bald-headed men, sporting pony-tails and driving Mazda Miatas.