More than another year older?

 On Saturday we got back to running and I managed a 5k in 35 minutes. Not a bad way to start my birthday though I suspect the meal out at lunch time put back on the calories I must have burnt up. 

So I've made it to state pension age, even though I have still another month to actually receive it in full. 

I've applied for my bus pass which should soon be with me and again its like another milestone. 

How do I feel about all this? I'm not really sure. I mean it's just another year and just another number 66!! In fact I retired from 'work' nearly two years ago so it does not feel such a milestone except financially.

The additional funds will make a major difference having coped with just my church pension these past two years, but compared to so many in our society at present I am very fortunate. Strangely this coming weekend I will be at my Iona Family group reflecting on our use of money etc. This could prove to be an interesting time of reflection. It's not just about the money and what you do with it. It's about how society's view of money has changed. 

Becoming a 'pensioner' is of course going to happen later and later for many people. My children think it may never happen for them as the age of being in receipt gets progressively moved. I think this will have major consequences going forward. The later you retire the less likely you will have time to give to support your children with grandchildren care, or become a volunteer for groups in the community, which in turn impacts on the well being and cohesion of society. In fact for those who have particularly physically demanding jobs they may well struggle to cope and find themselves in poverty being unable to work because of sickness due to age. The fact we have one of the poorest state pensions around, which is not even set at the living wage, is just going to mean more older people will be living in poverty. This is happening at a time when the rich are becoming richer, and more and more people of all ages are slipping into poverty which includes many children. 

So as I write I realise how fortunate I am. Equally I realise how these past fourteen years have witnessed the erosion of what it means to be a just society.  Where once there was a greater community cohesion and we had one of the best health services in the world, we now have one where a minority have used power to gain more and more of the national financial cake. Through these changes dressed up as giving people greater liberty, access to quality health care has deteriorated, while millions of pounds have been siphoned off into private companies and into the pockets of the all ready rich. 

Our waterways and seas have become polluted as water companies take out loans to pay shareholders yet failing to invest in new infrastructure. In the end the population as a whole will have to pay out if we are to ever see clean water again and the rich will walk off into the sunset!! 

A recent report to the house of Lords found that children who had lived near Sure Start centres did better educationally than those who did not. The ruling party of our country is responsible for undermining this good work as they closed so many children centres under the false policy of austerity. 

I could go on but it becomes increasingly clear to me that the responsible use of money has been sadly lacking. Instead greed to have more money has driven people into poverty and created an in balance in social cohesion. 

Jesus made it clear that you can't have two masters. The love of money corrupts a society. Those who have it in abundance seek now to make more and more and not to share it. They even change laws to seek to remain in power. Having to have ID to vote sounds okay but in reality there was no problem with people misusing voting rights. In fact more conservative MP's have been found guilty of wrong doing than voter fraud. But you have to have ID now and young people tend not to have the right forms. My Bus pass when it comes is acceptable but a  young person's is not. It is so obvious this law change seeks to disenfranchise those most likely not to vote for the current government. I can only pray that older people who are more likely to vote, and have all the right forms of ID, will see this government for what it is. It has become corrupt to the core and unfit to rule. It will take years to undo the damage caused to our society be it health care, the environment, education and politics itself.

So how am I feeling another year on with state pension in hand and the imminent arrival of a bus pass. I'm glad to be alive with the joy of being able to help children with grandparent duties. Relieved that I am fortunate to have enough to cope with ever increasing costs. But I am challenged to use what I have to try and make a difference to other peoples lives. That is about time as well as financial wealth. I will have to live with contradictions such as a bus pass that gives me free travel while young people who want to work can't afford the transport costs in some places to get to a job.  

It will be very interesting to reflect on Saturday with others about our use of money. In the meantime I'll pray for an election that removes a corrupt government sooner rather than later, and that we obtain one that believes in community, the environment and the well being of all not just the few.