When you are old and your hair is gray

I was concerned by post-Referendum comments relating to what some saw as the undue influence which older voters had had on the result.  The following headline appeared over an article in The Independent: ‘How old people have screwed over the younger generation.’  One young person tweeted, ‘I want to shout out all the old people who voted to ruin my future and the futures of generations to come.’ These are just two typical examples among many, and these kind of comments greatly concern me.

They concern me, firstly, because they imply that when older people cast their vote they were doing so for purely selfish motives.  I get the point that, on average, younger people have more years left to live on planet earth than older people, and therefore will have longer to live with the consequences of the Brexit vote.  But when I cast my vote I was very aware that the outcome would affect the lives of my children and grandchildren, and I have no reason to doubt that many older people also bore in mind such thoughts when they voted.

Of more concern to me, however, is the more general point about how our society often regards older people.  Phrases such as “had their day” and “passed it” are not uncommon.  In the Old Testament book of Leviticus, we read these words, ‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord’ (Leviticus 19:32).  Clearly, God’s desire is that older people are to be respected and treated with honour.  Equally clearly (and very sadly), this is often not the case in our modern society.  Ageism is very much alive.

For some, approaching old age can be worrying.  Respected Christian leader John Stott, who died at the age of 90, was quoted as saying “I knew I had to prepare for eternity, but no-one told me I had to prepare for being old.”  Billy Graham, who is still alive at the age of 97, said this: “All my life I was taught how to die as a Christian, but no one ever taught me how I ought to live in the years before I die … It is not easy.”

To disrespect a person because of their age is a denial of who they are in the sight of God, whether that be as seen in Paul’s advice to his young protégé Timothy (‘Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young’) or with regard to older people.  Older people have so much to offer, as Job understood, ‘Is not wisdom found among the aged?  Does not long life bring understanding?’ (Job 12:12).  Clearly God sees great value in older people: ‘I am your God and will take care of you [when] you are old and your hair is gray.  I made you and will care for you’ (Isaiah 46:4).

A society which disregards and disrespects its elderly is a society that is sick at heart.  Yesterday I visited my 93-year-old mum in hospital following a fall she had at home.  The experience has left her rather confused and disoriented.  While I was sitting with her, a member of the nursing staff came to take her blood pressure etc.  As I listened to the conversation which went on between the nurse and my elderly, confused mum, I was noticed with great pleasure how the nurse treated mum with great compassion and dignity.  Mum was treated as someone of value.  If only our society as a whole could follow that example.

Sieze the moment!

My favourite genre of book is biography; I thoroughly enjoy reading about people's lives.  One book which I have just finished reading was by actor Frank Williams, most well known through his role as the vicar in the hugely popular TV series, Dad's Army.  It was an interesting read, as Williams outlines aspects of his life story, including how his Christian faith has impacted his life.  Naturally, there is a significant section of the book which deals with his time as a member of the cast of Dad's Army.  I was surprised to read that the final TV episode was broadcast as long ago as 1977.  That said, the programme seems as popular now as it ever was, and a new Dad's Army feature film was released in cinemas this year.  I vividly remember watching the series when it was originally shown, and I still enjoy the innocent humour of the programme (they really don't make them like that anymore!)

It is clear from Frank Williams' account that the actors who played the main characters in the series developed close relationships over the years, creating a family-like bond, as they spent so much time together during the process of filming, both on location and in the studio.  Even after the final series was aired in 1977, the friendships which had been built up remained as the various actors went their separate ways.  One poignant aspect of the book, however, comes when he relates how, over the years since the series ended, various cast members have died.  Only Frank Williams himself and Ian Lavender remain of the main cast members from the original series.  The sense of loss is clearly described.

I woke up one morning recently to the realisation that if my dad had still been alive it would have been his 97th birthday.  I rooted through an old photograph album and found a lovely photo of my Dad flanked by me and Sue.  I don't mind admitting that a few tears came to my eyes as I reflected in the memory which the image evoked.  Although my dad died almost 25 years ago, there are still moments when I keenly feel his absence.  Indeed, reading Frank Williams' book reminded me that my dad and I used to enjoy watching the programme together back in the 1970s.

As a read Frank Williams' book and also reflected in my dad's birthday and the feelings it evoked, I was reminded again how vital it is that we cherish every moment we spend with friends and loved ones.  Human relationships, however wonderful they may be, cannot last forever.  It is so important that we value our relationships while we still have them, and take time to speak and demonstrate to others how much we love and value them while we still have the opportunity.