October 2, 2026. Indeed, we only grow old when we live without ideals, when we no longer possess enthusiasm. DearJesus, The final wish in life of mine and my beloved wife is to bring Your

 

Dear Jesus,

Long ago, during my medical school years, I used to look forward to Sundays—a time to escape the stress of classes and hospital rotations. A friend and I would ride a Vespa down to the Old Market (*Chợ Cũ*) for breakfast.

In the cool, gentle morning breeze of Saigon back then, I found a simple happiness in those relaxed Sundays: a bowl of fish *hủ tiếu* (noodle soup) and a *pâté chaud* pastry, shared with my close friend...

Later, while working in Kansas, I also cherished weekends off—sitting with a cup of coffee in a cozy home with my loving wife and well-behaved children, watching the snowfall outside...

Then came retirement and leaving my hospital job. The first few months were joyful—sleeping in late—but that feeling soon faded. Since every day became a weekend, there was no longer that eager anticipation for a break. 

Some retired friends traveled, but not everyone could, often due to family obligations. Over time, those trips grew infrequent and eventually stopped altogether due to health issues. Life in retirement gradually became monotonous; we had nothing left to look forward to...

A few days ago, I watched a video about a 103-year-old Vietnamese man who was still remarkably sharp. Friends asked what he ate to achieve such longevity. He said it was nothing special—just the usual Vietnamese diet: rice, fish, meat, and vegetable soup, eating whatever was in season. His friends took notes and stopped asking how he had managed to live to 103 in good health.

 When he was 92, a major tragedy struck: his wife passed away. The shock was so profound that he was left virtually paralyzed for three months, lying in bed with no desire to rise. 

One day, he spotted a perilla sprout emerging from the soil—a seed his wife had planted before she "departed." That tiny shoot seemed to carry a message from her, urging him to wake up each morning to water and tend to the plant. That very plant became the source of strength that helped him move forward and find joy in his remaining days; it also drew friends back to his home to visit him.

He came to realize that to live a joyful life, one must have a purpose, an ideal...

I am reminded of the words of Samuel Ullman:

Youth is not a time of life,

IT IS A STATE of MIND.

It is not a state of rosy cheeks,

Red lips and supple knees,

It's A matter of the will,

A quality of the imagination,

A vigor of the emotions,

It is the freshness of the deep springs of life.

Nobody grows old by the mere number of years.

We grow old by deserting our ideals.

Years may wrinkle the skin,

But to give up the enthusiasm wrinkle the soul.

Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart,

And turn the spirit back to dust.

Whether sixty or sixteen,

There is in every human’ s being heart,

The lure of wonder,

The unfailing child-like appetite of what’s next,

And the joy of the game of living.

Samuel Ullman

Indeed, we only grow old when we live without ideals, when we no longer possess enthusiasm.

DearJesus,

The final wish in life of mine and my beloved wife is to bring Your words of loving comfort, of Eternal Life, to my brothers and sisters whom I have never met, so that they may know they are not alone in this earthly life; that they have a Father in Heaven who loves them with an Unconditional Love and watches over their every step in this arduous world. It is this very aspiration that gives me the courage each morning to wake up, meditate, and write down Your teachings to share with friends across the globe.

My devoted wife also meditates daily and helps me fill in the gaps in my writings...

My beloved children,

I shall grant you both peace—a peace the world cannot give—and I bless your shared aspiration...

• Let me know You, and let me know myself. Know You to listen to Your Word, and put it into practice in my daily life. Know me to change my path to Your righteous one, to have Heaven in my heart, and You are always with me.

  May my meditation bring many more readers,  who are not yet believers, into your Forever Family.

  Please bless all those who read this meditation in my Blog.

  AMEN.