Yesterday an elderly gent was describing his regular visits to the pub and how he’d changed. ‘In the past I’d walk through a snowdrift for a pint,’ he said with a sigh. ‘Now I can’t be bothered.’
He’s not the man he was. I understood. I’m not the man I was either.
Earlier this week a group of us were discussing Paul’s words ‘Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.’ Most of us were 70+. Someone said, ‘We’re not the temples we used to be.’ Perhaps some of us need a maintenance engineer… or perhaps we’re listed buildings of historic value.
Looking in the mirror my temple isn’t what it was; I’m not the man I was.
Yesterday I walked on the beach. A lot of folks were out with their dogs. I heard, ‘Come here Brutus.’ The dog I saw didn’t look anything like a Brutus. Then I heard ‘Butch! Butch!’ I looked up. It was another misnamed – or ironically named – dog. The next dog was ‘Marvin’. I’m not sure what I expected.
Appropriate names? Twenty years ago I was ‘headteacher’, ‘church leader’… If I’m not the man I was, what name is appropriate for me now?
Peter describes older people as ‘elders’, with three instructions:
Be a caring shepherd. Since I’ve retired I’ve talked to people with cancer, sat with friends with dementia, learnt from those who’ve been bereaved. It’s not enough to see and understand those who are suffering…
Be eager to serve. This isn’t a frontline, highly visible role but I must stay active, eagerly, enthusiastically helping and supporting, humbly recognising and meeting the needs of others…
Be an example to the flock. Whether I like it or not family, friends, acquaintances will look at me as someone who’s been round the block a few times – father, grandfather, friend, Christian, human…
I’m not the man I was… but as an ‘elder’ I can be my best self, caring, serving and being an example.
malcolmsmusings.org 
Beautifully Expressed!!!fg
Sent from my iPhone
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Thank you for your kind words.
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By God’s grace. . .
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You’re right Joy. It’s not something we’re good at on our own!
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Kindness should be an endless well. 🙂
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You’re right, Nancy, but sometimes kindness is easier talked about than practiced.
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Oddly, I’m not sure that I ever was the man I was. I just hope to one Day be the man I am.
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I pray that I can be the man that God calls me to be.
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One Day you will be, Bro, and so will I when we get to see Him face to Face.
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Typically philosophic, Majik. And love it. 😍
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Great instructions!
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It’s easy to see and agree with instructions; it’s not always so easy to carry them out.
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True!
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Amen, Malcolm. Nice blend of humor with, yes, time-grown wisdom.
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Thanks, Mitch. Hopefully its’ wisdom that will lead to action.
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Just this morning, I met a friend for coffee to discuss the book, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul. The author writes about how aging transforms us into Elders! Your post is so timely for me. Thank you for your insights and companionship here.
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Thank you Karen. It’s an insight I’m still working through both in principle and personally.
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