I Know an Old Man

I know an old man who’s quickly aging. His eyes won’t see what they used to see. His ears won’t hear what they used to hear. His knees are tired of supporting him. His breathing weakens when it used to be strong. Of course this didn’t happen all of a sudden, yet it did.

When his car doesn’t work, he has no problem taking it back to the dealer and paying to have them fix it. When his body doesn’t work he waits for it to fix itself. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn't. I hope he’s learning to take his body’s concerns to his Maker and his Maker’s assistants (otherwise known as doctors) even though it’s not easy.

It’s okay today for a man to acknowledge fear, but he’s still not comfortable admitting his fears. It’s okay for a man to be sad or frightened, but it’s so much easier to be angry.

I wonder if he remembers all he’s seen through those failing eyes. I hope those pictures are alive in his sharp mind. I wonder if he remembers all the voices and sounds he’s heard through his deafening ears.

May the music of his life play on in his mind to the end of his days.

When his strength is gone will he recall all the jobs he labored at? All the sports he played? Does he know that it’s okay to rest now?

Does he know how vital he still is? Does he realize how many people want to hear his stories? Does he really believe that it’s never too late to learn? What a difference he would make in the lives of others by setting such an example as taking a class.

When he considers his regrets in life, does he realize that he can still repair some relationships or do some deeds left undone?

Does he know that seeing apology as weakness is old school? That we’ve evolved past that and realize the strength it takes to admit wrong doing and say “I’m sorry?” I hope he knows by looking at others’ lives that sometimes one’s regrets are regrets to them alone; they don’t affect other people as may be feared. Even genuine regrets may have some good repercussions as we learn from each other.

I think he grew up in a time when a man worked hard for a good life; now he sees so many people with easier jobs and fewer home responsibilities that require their own hands and time. While that’s encouraging and impressive, I think it can brew some bitterness. I hope he knows that it’s okay to let someone else help him around the house today.

I hope he knows that in accepting help he’s also helping.