Forever Young

Meg Ryan captured the hearts of moviegoers in "Sleepless in Seattle" and "You Got Mail". Beautiful, witty and appealing, Ryan not only became the screen sweetheart of actor Tom Hanks but of adoring fans as well. Her career though has been going downhill through the years. In 2008, Ryan and Hanks bumped on each other during an event of the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. Hanks noticing that he looked quite old in the presence of the youthful looking Ryan, was quoted as saying: "Meg, keep away from Botox", referring to the youth-enhancing drug. He may have meant that if they should be seen as an on-screen couple in a future movie project, both of them should have aged gracefully in their looks. Otherwise, Hanks will have to play a fatherly role to Ryan’s character.

Actors and actresses are looked upon as moneyed and glamorous. But as time passes by, many simply fade away into oblivion. We only hear of them when they have committed a scandalous act or may have died. There are a few with drawing power continuing for a long time until their golden years, in the likes of John Wayne, Marlon Brando and Paul Newman, truly gifted and genuinely talented. In this age of cosmetic surgery, quite a number of thespians whose fame is grounded on looks, try as much as possible to stay forever young. Let’s face it, the body can only take so much – age will take its toll. And the fickle show business industry seeks out younger talents – bringing the curtains down on senior players.

"Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!" (Ecclesiastes 1:2) Well-being, in the context of quite a number of people, is to be in the state of youthfulness. So many legends have been told about the fountain of youth and of expeditions pursued to find it. It does not exist. Human beauty is only skin-deep; and the skin depreciates with time. Cosmetic surgeons mostly feed on human vanity.

It is our souls that never ages and live forever. Well-being should therefore be synonymous with spiritual wellness. Jesus Christ purposely came to be amongst us to bring us the Good News that life persists after death. He gave us the formula on life eternal in Heaven: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."(Mark 12:30) If we do so, even while living on this earth and growing old, we will forever remain young at heart with the love, the peace and the joy of God’s presence.

by Mel Libre