Planned Obsolescence

 One of my Facebook friends, Steve Ridgell, a minister currently living in Texas and about my age, posts videos regularly.  Those videos can be on any number of topics, and are usually only three to four minutes long.  Each of the videos, however, regardless of topic, has some kind of message in it that is good for the heart and good for the soul.

On one of his last videos, Steve mentioned that he recently had purchased hearing aids.  During the course of conversation with the seller, Steve was told that in about 5 years time, the manufacturer of the aids would no longer support them with repairs and spare parts.  Planned obsolescence, they call it.

One might think the manufacturers would intentionally do this in order to sell new hearing aids.  And that may well be part of the deal.  However, the technology changes so rapidly that parts are often not available to the manufacturer from their suppliers.  Additionally, the technological improvements to things like hearing aids make it desirable for users to take advantage of the improvements.

Steve then brought the conversation around to our own “planned obsolescence.”  What he was talking about was the gradual loss of health and wellness of our bodies.  As we age, even if we’re relatively healthy, we gradually acquire an assortment of aches, pains, and conditions which tend to limit our strength and ability to do many of the things we used to do in times past and gone.  We’re not as agile as we once were.  We forget more, and remember less than we once did.  Our energy isn’t what it used to be.  We’re on the downhill slide of life in this creation.  But, Steve says, that doesn’t mean that we can just sit back and take it easy when it comes to the “good works” God has planned for his people to do.

Those “good works” may change as we age and can no longer do this or that thing.  But we may well be able to pick up on some activities of the faith that we previously had not thought of or didn’t have the time for.  We may no longer be able to travel as much or as far in service or ministry.  But we may be able to pray more, teach, study, and do things more in line with our limited energy and capability.  Just because we may no longer be able to run a marathon doesn’t mean that we also are no longer capable of walking a hundred yards.

Sometimes, it’s difficult for us to accept the fact that we are no longer able to do some of things we have in the past been able to do.  So we mourn that loss, but fail to pick up something to put in the place of those things.  We continue in a state of mourning and yes, even grief.  But, we need to come to an understanding of our limits, and then look ahead to whatever time we have left and fill that time with useful service to the God who has made us, loves us, and cares for us.

I don’t like the term “planned obsolescence” any better than most of you do.  The curmudgeon in me says that businesses and manufacturers are intentionally doing in in order to sell us more things.  However, I also understand the reality that things can’t always be as they were.  Things change.  Times change.  We change.  Our bodies change.  Our capabilities change.  What we used to be able to do we can no longer do.  We need to be able to adapt while still serving our God in ways that glorify Him.  May God’s blessing continue with us as we continue our travel through life and living.