Why 50+ Is the Perfect Time for a New Vision
- Melinda Eye Cooper Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
- Updated Jul 11, 2023
For most of us – our vision worsens as we age.
We hit fifty and find ourselves grabbing cheap spectacles sold in multi-packs for our convenience to see anything close-up. We leave spare pairs of them all over the house because we never know when we may need them.
We take them with us when we go out to read restaurant menus or the tiny print found on food or clothing labels. Or we may resort to taking a photo with our phone and then blowing it up just to find out the size of a shirt. It’s a frustrating part of aging.
It seems we don’t appreciate our 20/20 vision until clear eyesight becomes a struggle. Then we long for the days of good eyesight because blurry vision is a bummer.
But there are some good things about growing older.
In many ways, our vision gets better with age. Life somehow is more precious after we cross the fifty-year mark. We’ve lost friends and family members already along the way, and we don’t want to waste what time we have left.
We look back and see how quickly those years flew by. Our kids are likely raised with children of their own. Grandchildren are growing up fast, too.
It can cause us to pause. Reflect. Then possibly reset.
We may decide to try some new things and enjoy life more. Stop sweating the small stuff and tackle some big things. Maybe even try things we’ve never done before. We may get a new vision for our future and choose new things. Why not?
How can we move forward with the best possible vision for the rest of our lives?
God has given us one precious life. We want to live the rest of it well.
Here are 7 ways we can have a new vision after 50:
Photo Credit: ©SparrowStock
1. Don’t forget the things we’ve seen.
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9
With age comes wisdom.
We’ve learned important life lessons to share with our children and grandchildren. They won’t always want to listen, but passing on our insights into life’s difficulties is like handing over a little treasure.
We’re keenly aware of the mistakes we’ve made and can guide our children to avoid those pitfalls. If nothing else, we’re able to empathize when they go through similar experiences in life.
New vision – Remember what we’ve learned moving into the rest of our lives.
2. The old is better.
And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’” Luke 5:39
Why is the best wine old?
Because it’s aged.
Aging for wine creates a better experience for whoever drinks it. The longer it ages, the smoother it becomes. Time allows flavors to develop and mellow. It’s better than the new.
There’s a depth and richness we experience (usually) within a conversation with an older person. They’ve been there. They understand. Their life experience and advice are often golden.
After living fifty years, we’ve grown in depth and richness. Our sight may have grown dimmer, but the light of our souls has grown brighter.
New vision – Embrace aging like a fine wine, adding depth and richness to conversations with others.
3. We see His mighty acts.
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. Psalm 71:81
Within our 50-plus years are probably many tears. Joyful and sad. There’s no way around sorrow in our lives. Often, these times of grief or joy are places we eventually look back and see God’s work in our lives.
If we’ve been blessed enough to grow older, we’ve seen God do some mighty acts. Things that may be hard for someone who doesn’t know God to believe. They may be incredible events we share with people from time to time.
A vision for us after Fifty, may be to share those experiences by writing them down for our children and grandchildren. We want to make sure they know the things God did in our lives so that when He works in their lives, they’ll know we have something incredible in common. Or they could be shared in a video with a retelling of the event. This would be a wonderful gift for the next generation.
New vision – Write a journal or letters to our grandchildren sharing some God experiences that are hard to believe but true.
4. Sing a new song.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. Psalm 40:3
God gave us the gift of song. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s also powerful.
I have a video of my dad singing “Amazing Grace” when he was in the later stages of Alzheimer’s. When he couldn’t use the remote control or telephone or even remember family members, he knew all the words to a hymn. It’s a precious thing.
Take some time to sing hymns or learn new songs. If you’re creative, try writing a new song. It doesn’t need to be for the purpose of publication but to proclaim God’s goodness. Why not?
New vision – Take up singing or writing songs – praising God’s work in our lives.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/RUBEN RAMOS
5. Long life brings understanding.
Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? Job 12:12
The longer we live, the more we see. The more we see, the more we understand.
Sometimes human nature is downright despicable. We’ve seen terrible things. We may have been shaken to our core by some unspeakable tragedy. We’ve had our hearts crushed a time or two. Maybe a few. We understand heartache and sorrow.
But we’ve also seen incredible forgiveness of things we’d find difficult to forgive. We’ve witnessed the goodness of God shining through His people in horrible circumstances. It gives us hope and understanding.
New vision – Allow God’s goodness to flow through us because of our understanding.
6. See that the LORD is good.
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8
By fifty, we’ve seen a few things, for sure. If we’ve been a Christian for most of those years, then God has blessed us in many ways. We can share with others how good God has been to us all our lives.
Our new vision for the rest of our lives, may be to find a way to share God’s goodness with others. We can volunteer any place we like and love people.
Throughout our lives, God may have softened our hearts toward the homeless or abused women or children. With more time on our hands later in life, we’re positioned to make an impact on the ones who need it most.
New vision – Share with others how good God has been all our lives.
7. Sustained in our old age.
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4
God will use anything and everything for His purposes. Our age does not matter.
This verse hits my heart because of what He promises He will do when we’re old. He will sustain us. He will carry us. He will rescue us.
Our lives are winding down in many ways, but God will do what He says. We can count on Him. He’s with us through everything in life and especially in our old age.
New vision – God’s love doesn’t diminish when we age. Our deep relationship with Him will be sustained. We’re never too old to be used by God.
I love this quote by Helen Keller because it is full of truth:
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart. – Helen Keller
Our vision may get worse physically but spiritually, it sharpens as we age. We’ve grown up in our growing old.
The important things in life are clearer. We can set aside what no longer matters and embrace life the way we should. We’re braver because we know life is fleeting and God is trustworthy. We want to live the rest of our one precious life well.
Sometimes, it’s late in life when we figure this out and that’s okay because our new vision can see us through to the end.
Helen Keller is right.
The most beautiful things in life are not seen but truly are felt with the heart. We don’t need eyesight, but we do need vision.
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Ridofranz
Melinda has been honored to be a Selah Awards finalist for online articles and a finalist for the 2023 Writer of the Year Award with Serious Writer.
Her non-fiction book “Cross My Heart” is available here. Visit her website here to receive blog posts via email. You can follow her on Facebook here or Instagram here.
