Category Archives: Gifts of Age
Ignorance Is Curable. Stupidity Isn’t.
Ignorance is curable, stupidity isn’t.
Stupidity is thinking we personally know the whole truth, nothing but the truth, thus making us equal to God.
I remember reading a book by Henri Nouwen almost half of a century ago. It was Reaching Out. Nouwen writes about the Three Movements of the Spiritual Life: Journey Inward, Journey Outword, and Journey Together. The first part resonated joyfully for me, the second part I felt tentative about, but open to it’s possible truth, the third part threatened some of my most cherished beliefs and I rejected it immediately. Over the years I reread the book. The second time, I could joyously affirm the truths of both part one and part two. The third part still made me uneasy and didn’t find a home in my picture of reality. But since I had grown in my understanding of the other parts, I put it into my “possible” file. Eventually, I reread it and found that I had stretched my view of the world enough to encompass those truths.
Stupidity is when we don’t admit that the truths that make up our view of the world will always need stretching.
Woo Hoo! Still THE MAN.
Whoo Hoo! Still THE MAN
Through Memories
I look at you through memories
of running in the rain,
of funny children’s stories
and haunted Halloweens.
Of how you learned to hold me
and simply let me cry,
listening to my many fears
to heal me of my fright.
Of you overcoming phobias,
so I wouldn’t be alone
while camping in the woods
or giving talks on Type.
Of nightmare trips in broken cars
and cabins full of scouts,
houses filled with strangers
and jeep rides in the night.
Letters shared in parking lots
and rooms full of golden flowers,
the kaleidoscope of memories
that fill my heart with love.
Fifty-four years.
A Change in Priorities
A joke about seniors illustrates very clearly how our priorities change as we age. Since I am currently re-evaluating what priorities are still within my skill set, this seemed like a timely re-post. 🙂
A senior citizen, who normally rode the Senior Center Bus on their outings, hadn’t shown up for several months. Then, one morning he showed up again.
Sam, his co-bus rider and pool playing buddy at the center, after being assured that Jim hadn’t been ill or out of town, asked him why he hadn’t been around lately.
“Well, I’ve met a lady at church and we’re going to get married. I came today to ask you to be my best man.”
“My goodness, sure I will. That’s great news. Tell me about her. Is she good looking?” Sam asked excitedly.
“Um, well, no, not really,” Jim replied hesitantly.
“Well, at our age that’s not as important as it used to be,” Sam assured him. “I bet she’s a real good cook.”
“Actually, she’s kind of a Kraft macaroni and cheese cook,” Jim said, shrugging.
“Oooh boy. You lucky son of a gun! I bet she must be hot to trot then. A between the sheets kinda gal?” Sam laughed, slapping his friend on the back.
Blushing and looking down at the floor, Jim mumbled, “She doesn’t seem very interested in sex.”
“Well, why in the world are you marrying her?” Sam exclaimed.
Jim looked up smiling, “She can drive.”
Laughter: Carbonated Grace 