My *elderly iPhone is showing its age. Its *battery health has been waning recently. It’s moving more slowly, not loading its featured programs as quickly. It takes longer to fully charge this sturdily useful piece of technology. As an artifact within my own elderhood, this phone may be like me in some ways—losing some energy, but still looking forward to more years of sturdy usefulness.
In iPhone years, I may be only six or seven. But in people years I am approaching the four-score life span that Psalm 90 welcomes. It’s likely that my batteries—energy, vim, vigor—are also decreasing gradually.
Looking back on my life, I can see that there may have been parts of my lifestyle that were quietly sapping my vitality: Stressors constantly running in the background. Thinking that multi-tasking was an acceptable way to live. Operating at full power mode as much as possible. Back then, I did not always do a good job recharging my body, mind and spirit.
Something I’ve realized as I have grown older: Although I am much more fearfully and wonderfully made than any iPhone, my older adult vigor also has limits that I should pay attention to.
Like my venerable device, there may not be replacements for the energy-giving batteries that power my life. Because I am a smart iPerson, though, I will steward my battery health to last for many more years: Cutting out what unnecessarily drains me. Re-energizing my spirit, mind and body through worship, prayer, exercise and healthy eating. Staying in touch with upgrades—the wonderful wisdom that comes from other people–that keep me efficient and effective.
I’m taking care of this phone’s battery health for as long as possible. I hope to do the same with my personal sources of energy!
*If you own a first generation 6ES iPhone, you may be experiencing the same phenomenon. The battery problem is not your fault. Although lithium-ion batteries are the result of amazing chemistry, their chemical age decreases over time. They don’t last forever.
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