DIRECTION, PURPOSE AND FAITH
Face down, inches from a plateful of fried Icelandic Cod, the hunched over senior seated at the end of the table is feasting at his favorite Friday Fish fry. An olive tinged skin color and brooding face says “I am old and a failure”. He appears aged, tired, defeated. No polite way to phrase the observation. Attired in a faded, wrinkled, oversized Brooks Brothers Ivy League shirt, he looks to have been defeated by life’s tsunami of misfortunes.
Table talk centers around the weather and his decades long deteriorating health. The list includes flat feet, by pass surgeries, failing eye sight, hip replacement surgery. It seems the list could be much longer. Everyone at the table pities this poor guy.
He announces proudly “Next month I am eligible for Medicare”. Receiving this government entitlement is an important milestone in his life providing a glimmer of hope to a man down on his luck. We all give him a positive, caring smile.
Seeing an opportunity to turn the conversation to the positive, we ask about his daily activities since he has retired. Nothing he says, nothing. “I don’t do a damn thing”. Topics such as his grand children, the Packers, ice fishing on the lake, all fall on deaf ears. He appears to be directionless, purposeless, faithless. Life has been a sad, lonely journey,
Years of inactivity, over eating, carousing, contribute to his appearance of being a person living on the streets. Fleshy jaws are swollen as he sits with shoulders bowed looking submissively at those at the table. What occurred inside the soul of this once energetic, athletic, successful executive?
Another lively table is occupied by millennials. We marvel at these young geniuses who are mature beyond their years. They demonstrate the knowledge and intuition of a 50 year old when they are about 25. The fast track to personal and professional success awaits those who are prepared to grab onto the brass ring.
Conversely, some unfortunately have the premature demeanor and attitudes of aging seniors. In this regard, they out pace their peers. The mantle of a 70 year old is carried by someone three decades their junior. A lifetime of potentially missing the joys and opportunities of life await.
One wonders which comes first; the physical deterioration of the body or the loss of a zest for experiencing life. What causes some to prematurely cash in their chips and check out. There may be a describable combination of energy, direction and faith which determines our future path. Our deepest inner voices persuasively talk to us as we confront life’s important junctures. These situations are essential to enhancing our mental and physical health while concurrently deepening our purpose and faith. We label them as miracles.
The rapidly aging man at the fish fry is a poignant example of living life with a negative focus. This concentration leads to loneliness, grumpiness and a fatalistic attitude towards the future. He can save himself from these shortcomings if he trusts his God and those who love the teetering old man.
In a positive vein, the possession of a sense of direction, purpose and faith serve as life’s foundation for enriching spiritual regeneration. All of these are priceless. None can be purchased from a local retailer. They are found in our quiet moments of reflection, our conversations with God as well as those times when we share our souls with people we love and trust.
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