Reflections on old age

GETTING old is a strange and serious business. It is one of the many facets of human nature that almost nobody ever gives a thought. It is happening to us every minute of every day; yet we are seldom aware of it, for our periods of reflection are brief and infrequent.

The tent that is our earthly home is often disparaged. We live in a society that has declared the very beginning of life, of so little consequence that it can be terminated on a whim. In the face of medical advances that allow us to live longer, old age is often seen as reason enough to consider allowing an old tent to be neglected. Add pain or disease, and some will even take actions to terminate a life.

It is a common tendency to see in old age a very sad picture with dismal and melancholy prospects of decay.

An old man is a poor man. In terms of time, he is poor not only because he has so little left but also because he has few or no way of spending the little time he has in the manner he is most capable of. It is unfortunate of a man to grow old without getting wise but for getting wise, there is a penalty which every man has to pay.

Old age is a most decisive battle in life’s constant strife. Courage with which life should be entered upon must be renewed in order to come out of the battle triumphantly victorious. Old age depends on how we spend our younger days. It is the old yarn about seed planted in youth, tendered in manhood and harvested in age all over.

Old age would indeed be a regret if it consists chiefly in paying the debts accumulated in youth especially if there are very few means of doing so. Just like in the Parable of the Talents. It gives an account of our lives.

Old age is a gift not everyone is lucky enough to receive.

Second opportunities are rare. It is time to make up for things left undone, for time lost, defects and mistakes in youth. The reason old men are apt at giving advice is because knowing how things should be, yet rarely able to do, realizing their mistakes yet unable to make the corrections themselves; they feel that these could be straightened out if they could prevent young men from falling into the same mistakes.

Even men who have not been good in their day give the best advice for they know too well the consequences of their acts. It is by their mistakes mostly that the gray hair of old men and women becomes their crown of glory.