Lessons From Being Old

In 1967 the Beatles sung ‘When I’m 64’ about people who were very old. My 64^th birthday was ten years ago, so I guess I’ve learnt something about oldness. Yesterday taught me:

…Watching Sunday’s edition of ‘The Piano’… Host Claudia Winkleman and judges Mika and Lang Lang took their piano to Manchester Piccadilly station. The winner was 80-year-old Duncan, diagnosed with dementia six years ago.

Speaking about music and his beloved wife Fran, Duncan said: ‘It just gives me such total feeling about the girl I found and the girl I married, the girl I love and always will.’

Fran said: ‘It’s a real healing tool for him, it bridges over the fragmented thoughts and memories, it’s magical… There is a vulnerability there now that wasn’t there before…’

…Seeing King Charles ‘comeback public engagement’ on Tuesday to London’s Macmillan Cancer Centre, observing him talking to patients with care and empathy.

…Reading Piers Morgan: ‘King Charles didn’t see the people he met as his subjects, or mere commoners whose lives are vastly detached from his rarified palatial royal world.

He saw them as fellow patients and cancer sufferers, people all going through the same thing as him, with the same fears and worries…

And that gave them a real, tangible, searingly honest, emotional connection which I’ve honestly never seen before between Charles and the public.’

…Reading Nick Page’s article in ‘Premier Christianity’, ‘How to be Wise’. He writes:

‘Wisdom is not an automatic benefit of aging. You don’t get it with your bus pass and your pension. It comes through reflection. The only reason that older people might be wiser is because they’ve got more mistakes to reflect on…’

Reflecting on St Peter’s words that have been close to my heart for some months. He says that elders – older people – should be caring, serving, and good examples.

To that, this morning, I’m adding Duncan’s love and vulnerability, King Charles’ empathy and emotional connection, and Nick’s wisdom – from my growing number of mistakes…