Growing old and growing up, by Muyiwa Adetiba

My Priest celebrated his birthday in church last Monday. As to be expected of most small churches, the congregation celebrated the day with him. The favorable and celebratory tone of the tribute by his Associate Priest was also to be expected. However, a line struck me during the tribute. A line that applies, not just to the ‘birthday boy’, but to everyone, young or old. Using the example of addition and subtraction in basic arithmetic, the Associate Priest pushed the point that every birthday is a subtraction from what we have left on earth by a year. There is really nothing profound about that sobering statement on the face of it as I am sure I have heard a variety of it before, but it ...