The Golden Age
by Peggy Harris W.A.S.H. Board Chair

I remember: looking forward to the time in my life when I would “have it all together.” When I was fellowship dinner coordinator at my church we would have a special fellowship dinner for “The Golden Age” around Christmas time. We included people from age 50 and on. (You can become an AARP member at age 50 and auto insurance gives a senior citizen discount at age 50.) Some of those in the 50 age group thought they were too young to be considered “golden age” and so wouldn’t show up. I was in my forties then and golden age seemed a long way off. Even middle age didn’t seem appropriate then.

I remember: thinking that people in the golden age had so much wisdom and I longed to have that wisdom too. It just seemed that with all their past experience that they would know most everything and be able to share that great wisdom. They surely had learned all the lessons of life and were reaping the rewards upon reaching the golden age.

I remember: seeing the elders in my church, mostly all older than me. My doctors, dentist, medical care people were all older than myself. My pastor’s were older than me. Mostly my Sabbath School teachers were older. These caregivers were people I admired for the most part and helpful in my life.

Then suddenly: here I am about to turn 68 and that “Golden Age” – is it really upon me? All the significant people in my life (pastors, doctors, etc.) are younger than me now. I’m not quite sure how I got here! I’m still looking for that “wisdom” I thought would come with the age. I don’t feel like I have it all together yet! My grandchildren are teenagers and of course nobody knows much of anything yet! Now I’m an elder in my church but still learning about many things! There is so much to do that I’m not sure when I will have “arrived.” I’m certainly not basking in the sun of approval.

Maybe: sometime yet in the future there will come a time when I will know that I finally have “arrived.” Meantime I just keep putting one foot in front of the other and trudging up and down the hills of life. The mountains of life take a little longer than they used to, but when you get “there” the view is beautiful. By the grace of God I keep going sort of like the Energizer Bunny.

Maybe: next year - - - -.

This page last updated on Sunday January 29, 2006 11:14 AM

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