There is a new freedom in knowing one's days are numbered, an ability to see one's life - past present and future - without fear, anger, resentment or guilt.
So I have spent the past few days reviewing my good fortune and I find I have many priceless blessings to count, not the least of which, of course, is the mere fact of still being alive.
The next greatest blessing is to know God, to believe in and to trust him, to be aware every day that he is the creator and sustainer of the universe, that he is I AM and thus ever-present - the same yesterday, today and forever and therefore a reference point of security and stability in an increasingly unstable world.
The third great blessing is to have a wife with whom I have shared better and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and health these past 37 years and with whom I look forward to sharing what life still has to bring. As the book of Proverbs puts it: "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." Amen to that.
The fourth great blessing is friends, without whom life would be dreary indeed. Among these I count fellow sober alcoholics and good neighbours, for good neighbourliness, like friendship, is beyond definition of worth.
To these I can add still being able to write; an unpretentious but comfortable and convenient home; plenty of good food; sufficient clothing; a lovely wee dog and a reliable vehicle.
Then there are books to read (my Kindle library contains tens of thousands), churches to worship in, TV to watch, the internet to explore, entertainment aplenty and holidays to enjoy away from home - now the weather, as finally improved.
So, as you see, I have much to be grateful for. There are, of course, times when I feel as if I'm half a step behind the rest of the world, that I'm not quite keeping up.
But that's okay; advancing age brings that to us all and we can either accept it and be content, or not and be constantly embittered.
There was a time when I used to yearn for a return to what I perceived - perhaps through rose-tinted glasses - as the simpler, quieter, more moral and ethical society of my past, and the days when energy, vitality and virility were inexhaustible.
But the world, I have discovered at last, is what it is and I accept gratefully all the wondrous things that what we call progress has produced for our wellbeing, enjoyment and convenience.
Specially is that so, naturally, of the tremendous advances made in medical treatments and medicines. My prayer is that sooner rather than later there will be found a cure for all cancers.
garth.george@hotmail.com
-Correction: Last week's column incorrectly referred to the late Billy Graham. The international evangelist is still alive.
