Lessons from Michael at Home Depot
Bob Loudermilk
I recently dropped by the local Home Depot to pick up some supplies for a remodeling project. Little did I know that this stop would turn into an inspiring encounter with Michael, a Millwork Specialist at the store. Michael not only helped me quickly find what I needed, but he also became a source of motivation and wisdom.
As we chatted, I was struck by Michael’s youthful spirit and energy. I was surprised when he told me his age: 82-years-old. Intrigued, I asked for his secret to aging well and he shared the powerful mantra that he lives by. He said it came from a song titled “Don’t Let the Old Man In.” Michael explained that this song was inspired by a conversation that took place on a golf course between actor Clint Eastwood and his friend, Toby Keith. Impressed by the vitality of 88-year-old Clint, Toby asked for the secret to aging well and Clint responded: “I was taking a shower one day and I went, ‘Don’t let the old man in, I’m still doing this, I’m still doing that, don’t let him in.’”
Later that evening in his hotel room, Toby wrote a song based on Clint’s words. Here are some poignant lyrics from the song:
Many moons I have lived,
My body’s weathered and worn.
Ask yourself how old would you be,
If you didn’t know the day you were born.
Michael shared this song as a testament to his own philosophy on aging, emphasizing the importance of staying active and maintaining a positive outlook on life. Michael’s story serves as a reminder for living the Christian life. In Ephesians 4:22, the Apostle Paul references putting off or laying aside the old man: “Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.”
The old man represents the body of sin (Romans 6:6) and it is put off or done away with when we obey the gospel. As Paul explained to the Colossians: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). In Romans, we are enlightened on how the death of the old man takes place: “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death” (Romans 6:2-3).
The problem is that the old man will try to come back in. Sin wants to reign again in our body, so Paul instructs us: “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in lusts...but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead” (Romans 6:12-13).
Don’t let the old man in! It’s not just good lyrics for a song or a good philosophy for Michael. It’s instruction from heaven on how I leave behind my old life of sin and with a renewed mind, I begin serving God as a new man.
“Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:23-24).
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