From My Perspective - - -

Most people are aware of the cycle of life – you’re born, nurtured, educated, seek a career, seek out a spouse, have a family, see the children marry and begin their family, arrive at a point in life all too quickly when people think one should retire from his/her work skill or where others make it impossible for one to continue in his/her life’s ambition, and essentially turn one out to pasture (or put one into a Nursing Care facility, and – all too soon – seldom think of that person. That seems so bleak and negative – but for an aging population it is all too true. I know of School Teachers, Missionaries, Higher Education Professors, Pastors – while perhaps no longer able to ambulate as rapidly as they once did – continue to have the capacity to share their skills and knowledge and expertise with the contemporary generation. However, they become part of a fading memory, strongly urged to retire, and having to force their way to be heard and allowed to continue to participate somewhere. Don’t let those you know become an afterthought with you!

When the debates occurred and continue regarding a National Health Care Law, discussion keeps including thoughts and suspicions about “death panels” and whether or not that will lead to more severe issues such as “euthanasia”! This had become part of the discussion and theory years ago during the Abortion issue. The argument went something like this: “If one allows for the ‘murder’ of a fetus in the womb - Abortion, what will prevent using medical means to usher the elderly into the tomb – Euthanasia.” The recent discussions on Health Care in this country allows that the elderly are the cause of huge expenditures just to keep them functional for a very few years in the limited future. Life Expectancy – who should determine it? It caused me to think about a statement Coach Nick Saban, head football coach of the University of Alabama is quoted as having said yesterday when he learned three of his star players are entering the NFL Draft and will not be returning to play next season or to complete their college studies: “If they're fortunate enough to play until they're 30 years old, they'll still have 50 more years to live.” His comments indicate his view of life expectancy being 80 years of age.

In terms of becoming an afterthought, I mused about how punctuation and grammatical markings might feel if they were somehow personified. If this was possible, would you wonder how an asterisk might feel – relegated to a brief footnote or passing reference? What if you were and ellipsis – words being left out and/or not significant enough to be included in a sentence? What if you were a foundational principle and/or document – such as, The United States Constitution – and were ignored, how would you feel over time? What if those who framed the Constitution could address the current interpretations of it – what would they say? It is sad that with the passing of time and life, the “out of sight – out of mind” factor becomes an increasing reality.

A classic illustration of an afterthought situation is found in II Chronicles 18:6-7 after Jehoshaphat has agreed to join Ahab in a battle against Ramoth-Gilead: “But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire? And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah…; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil." Micaiah will tell of a great defeat if this battle ensues. The “afterthought” now out of the way, Jehoshaphat and Ahab charge into battle. Jehoshaphat almost loses his life and Ahab does lose his. One of the greatest afterthoughts professing Christians often employ is Prayer. After committee meetings, and planning, and decisions are made – someone will suggest: “We ought to pray about this!” In many instances, it is doing the “religious” afterthought with a hope that God concurs with our wisdom and action. Bleak and Negative? Yes!  Actual? In too many instances – Yes!  Let those who are aging continue to do as much good as they can for as long as they can. Consider these things with me!