I am aboard a cruise ship heading northwest along the Indonesian coast towards Singapore, our departure destination. For eighteen days, we have been pampered in a comfortable cabin that is twice daily cleaned and restaurants stuffed with more food and drink than one ought to consume. We participated in adventures along the southern coast of Australia and the Java Sea. I have visited all the major Australian cities and sailed around this large continent. We interacted with good natured Australians who showed us their country. For those who have never visited Australia, the long flight and jet lag are more than counterbalanced by their warm hospitality and beautiful coastlines.
We are experienced cruise ship travelers. After boarding the ship, we unpacked our luggage and never searched for restaurants, nor hailed local transportation. While on a cruise ship, one easily experiences a country or region before deciding whether to explore it in more detail. For example, we cruised New Zealand’s east coast for a week and enjoyed this island nation so much that we spent three weeks driving the New Zealand countryside two years later. When we did a cruise expedition to the Arctic, the guides told us that Antarctica was even better. We will travel there in 2027. Cruising is a great way to travel and easily access foreign countries.
We started cruising regularly about fifteen years ago and at that time, we were younger than most of our fellow passengers. We are now getting closer to the average passenger age. Most of our fellow cruise passengers are retired and have the time to travel, while families with school-age children cannot travel. The ship has a fitness room, although a small percentage of passengers use it, and a spa that pampers passengers—for a fee. Evening dress is more casual today than when we started cruising but many passengers still dress smartly.
Given the age of the passengers, health and longevity is a common topic. I was relaxing in the jacuzzi yesterday and an older gentleman, who I had previously met, joined me. I saw a large scar on his shoulder and asked him if he had a shoulder replacement. He then proceeded to tell me about his five joint replacements in graphic medical detail. It reminded me of the hot mic last September between Chinese premier Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin who said that “human organs can be constantly transplanted, to the extent that people can get younger, perhaps even immortal.” The thought of either of these leaders being immortal brings trepidation into my theological thoughts.
Research shows that men tend to want to live longer while women want to look younger. The longevity business, both in looks and length, is thriving. Our cruise ship sells longevity in the spa, health club, and daily activities. One can purchase longevity tech equipment such as a longevity mirror and station. Both quickly assess your health using longevity modeling. I believe a far less expensive and better indicator of your health is a vist to your family doctor for an annual physical exam, followed up with simple aerobic and strength tests. There is even a new mental health disorder: longevity fixation syndrome. It seems that people get so fixated on longevity that they give up on things that are important to them.
I have a different approach to longevity; I want to live a better life, not longer. I don’t want to just exist for as long as possible. A better life is a purposeful life, full of meaning and truth. I want to feel healthy and be able to fully participate in the activities I love. Enabling a better life requires regular exercise that slows and extends the normal aging process. In tandem with exercise is healthy eating. Outside of cruise ship dining which constantly tempts you, I must be disciplined on nourishment quantity and quality. I know how to eat healthily; I must also have the discipline to consistently follow healthy eating. The third part of purposeful living is mental health—the feeding of the mind. My mental ‘library’ is getting so full that I must be selective in what I mentally consume, both visually and in written literature. I focus on reading acclaimed literature and theological classics, along with editorials from diverse publications. I balance these more thought-provoking subjects with creative fiction and vivid history.
If I die tomorrow, I will have lived a better life, although I have my share of sins. The reason for my better life is that I continue to grow and mature despite my imperfections and biases. I continue to evolve as a Christian seeking understanding. My community networks expand and I have deeper, more meaningful relationships. My love for my wife and family grows over the years. I still view God’s creation with a childlike wonder. I wake up each day excited about fully living another day through loving God with all my heart, mind, and soul and loving my neighbor as myself. If I can do this for one more day or thirty years, I will enter the Kingdom with joyful shalom.
