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A COLOR TO WEAR WITH PRIDE (2ND EDITION OF ARTICLE)

Here in Australia those who are over 40 are often referred to now as The "Grey Army" - a humorous name for those whose hair is more likely to be grey than any other colour. Some may still have a lot of their youthful colour left in their locks - but you usually won't have to look too far to find a few grey hairs here and there.

A recent successful business initiative making its presence felt in Aussie society even calls its mature-aged employees "The Grey Army". The over-40s are becoming a force to be reckoned with. As our population ages we are coming to realize that being older doesn't have to mean we are wearing out. We don't have to feel negative about aging. Being older can mean all sorts of positive things - like being wiser, more experienced, more mellow, more tolerant. It can mean not fretting over trivial things we used to be paranoid about when we were younger, being more contented, having lots of memories to reflect on (and just dwelling on the good ones). It can mean you don't feel the need to work so many hours - or indeed it can even mean early retirement with many golden years stretching ahead of you if fate is kind.

Being part of the so-called "Grey Army" ought to attract greater respect and, if ripening has made us sweeter, then hopefully it will mean younger people will enjoy our company, look to us for friendship, advice and support - and aspire to be like us.

So what's wrong with being grey? It's part of the big picture. Why should you have to cover up the fact that you've come this far? It doesn't have to mean you're over the hill - well not the last one anyway. Hopefully there are still many gently-rolling hills ahead - just as long as there aren't any that are too steep!

Grey hairs should be a status symbol - a trophy of God's grace in your life. After all, when people get really ancient - like over 80, 90 and 100, they are really proud of their age. It's like when you ask a child how old they are and they tell you they are "nearly 10" - when they may actually only be 9 years and 8 months. When people get to be, say 94 years and 8 months old they make sure you know about the 8 months as well as the 94 years. Or else they tell you they will be 95 in four months' time. You certainly don't have to twist their arm to tell you their age.

So why is it that we who are in between don't take pride and pleasure in declaring every extra year we've managed to stay alive when so many people tragically

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