Young Forever… Sort Of

AGING GRACEFULLY

Mark Rutland, now in his seventies, has written  Keep On Keeping On: How to Die Young as Old as Possible for those embracing the challenges of aging. Offering a laugh-out-loud handbook on how to face the realities of getting older with a positive attitude, Mark shares everyday experiences like grocery shopping, doctor visits, and dining out as comedic adventures within the context of aging.  

Rutland playfully warns that the book is not for the young, stating, "Do not let them read it; they cannot bear it". His comedic touch makes the loss of youthful delusions relatable and surprisingly uplifting. Aimed at those who understand that "the good night is just around the bend," Mark encourages those facing the day-to-day reality of aging. 

“This book is not about sounding retreat. It is about finding the joy in life as it is and not grieving about life as it was, or at least as I remember it. This book is about looking in the mirror and saying to the graying visage there, ‘You are no longer young. What a relief. Enjoy being pleasant and invisible.’”

Key aspects of the book include:
1.    Addressing bodily aches and pains without fear of the future.
2.    Celebrating the "sweet rage that defies the dying of the light."
3.    Sharing personal experiences of aging: Mark draws on his encounters with the challenges of getting older, transforming everyday experiences into comedic adventures.
4.    Confronting aging challenges with a smile and humor.

A BIG DOSE OF REALITY

After preaching a sermon at a young pastor's church, Mark was heading to leave when the pastor's wife took Mark's arm to assist him down the stairs. "I realized it was a spontaneous gesture of genuine concern. She was steadying the old guy on the dark stairs, and it was a bit of a shock," he shares. At that moment, he could have jerked his arm away in embarrassment, but he chose humility and thanked God that someone cared enough to try and prevent him from breaking his hip. Mark says that perspective is vital and that using humor helps.

“When you spend a half hour looking all over the house for your reading glasses and find they were 
on your head the whole time, that’s funny. When you are talking with younger folks and realize they have no idea, none whatsoever, what a pay phone is, that’s funny,” he shares.

TURNING HIS LIFE AROUND

Dr. Rutland accepted Christ as a teenager.  After college and graduate school, he climbed the corporate ladder of his church denomination (Methodist) to advance his career.  But feeding his selfish ambition, pride, and ego did not bring him contentment.  Twice in one month, he tried to commit suicide.  The turnaround came when he and his wife attended a conference to learn about the Holy Spirit.  Once Dr. Rutland spiritually saw how ungodly he was, he felt tremendous conviction and thought God was going to kill him.  When the conference speaker prayed for Dr. Rutland, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  This was a true turning point that renewed Dr. Rutland’s faith. 

For more information on Dr. Mark Rutland click the Link!  and check out his ministry Global Servants as well at www.GlobalServants.org 

CREDITS: 

New York Times best-selling author, latest: Keep On Keeping On: How to Die Young as Old as Possible” (Charisma House, 2024); Founder and President, Global Servants;  Former President, Oral Roberts University (2009-2013);  Former President, Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL (1999-2009);  Director of the National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL), Former Pastor, Calvary Assembly of God in Orlando, FL; Education: University of Maryland (BS); Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta (M.Div.); California Graduate School of Theology (Ph.D.);  Wife—Alison;  Children— 3 children & 9 grandchildren.