Well, this is in deference to my friends, who complain that my blogs are all very serious. Not really though, what about curry leaves and buying nice food on Sunday! Never mind, I will go light and not heavy today.
As some of us retirees took our customary evening walk and were strolling by in the nearby park, we were ruminating over age and about being called very respectfully, but of course condescendingly, the senior citizen. One can claim to be a senior citizen, if one is above 60 years and until 100 years, I suppose, if one lives that long. Bible says that God fixed man's life as 120 years. Genesis 6:3. Not many live up to that age now, but that is the allotted time for man on earth. Within this span of 40 years, presuming people will live up to at least 100 years, I observe, there is a gradation - like some method or order in madness.
Sixty to seventy five, I would call them, young senior citizens (like young adults!). Such people do not like to be called senior citizens, though surreptitiously enjoy all the perks that come along with that tag. They are still very active, go for their morning walks or swimming or to gym and some are quite well preserved, I should say. Some do not like anyone calling them Grandma/Grandpa or in the local lingo Patti or Thatha, unless of course their own grandchildren call them so. Well, this is the group to which I proudly belong to!
Let's consider the second group. This would be from 75 to 85 or even 89, still on this side of ninety! A very mature age, calmly surveying the world as it rushes past by, the youngsters hurrying to office or work or children being carted to and fro to schools and chuckle with a smile, commenting, oh, how we have passed these stages in life and how well and how efficiently we accomplished all these and so on. Still strong on foot, but considerably slowed down. I would call this the golden phase of life. Not yet feeble, but still independent and able to manage one's affairs, full of wisdom and maturity, with lot of chances to dish out advice, many a time, uncalled for.
Now comes the last phase of life, 90 to 100 and above. This is a very difficult age, they say people revert to being like kids in this age. They are selfish, want their needs to be attended to immediately, or else throw tantrums like children, complain and castigate, and generally make life difficult for themselves and others around them. Good luck for the care-givers, they need plentiful patience and real deep love to get by.
Bible has a beautiful picture about old age. In Isaiah 46:4 God of Israel, whom Jesus called his Father, says thus:
"Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs I will carry you!
I have made you, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you."
What comforting and reassuring words from our Maker! Wonderful. Then again in Psalms 92:13,14, it is written,
"Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the court of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,"
So folks, old age could be very fulfilling and flourishing, a time to look forward to, with all the assurances from God to really take care of you. So do not be cast down for any reason at all.
Good luck, all ye senior citizens!
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