Looking for a place to feel inspired and challenged? Like to share a smile or a laugh? Interested in becoming more familiar with Canadian writers who have a Christian worldview? We are writers who live in different parts of Canada, see life from a variety of perspectives, and write in a number of genres. We share the goal of wanting to entertain and inspire you to be all you can be with God's help.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Attitude before age, people -- Kathleen Gibson
Life goes faster over the hill, they say. Clearly, my body saw that coming and voted against it.
As I motored along (at a decent pace) over the freeway of mid-life, some molecular process within me tapped the brakes and flicked on the blinker. Looking for the scenic route, no doubt. Perhaps a long curving exit ramp.
It began just past my half-century mark. Flat parts got round, round parts got flat and smooth parts began wrinkling. Worst of all, things that used to stay up and in without a fuss, (hair and teeth for starters) began arguing.
Then I heard myself saying things like elephant instead of element and castration instead of frustration.
I also noticed (with more than an elephant of castration) that stuff that took minutes in my forties takes many more in my fifties.
These days, my evenings, once my most creative time of day, are often little more than supper, dishes and a few mandatory chores—all accompanied by yawns, rabid clock-watching, and a deep gulp of slow.
I can’t even order off most seniors’ menus yet, but some days I feel as though old age has marched out to meet me. “How’d we get this way?” I asked the Preacher the other day, as we dragged our limp selves into bed. “Who kicked us into old?” I sounded angry, and at that moment, I was.
He chuckled. “The pirates and beasts, probably.” True, his medical romps with West Nile and cancer have changed our lifestyle. But up with the birds, and down with the sun? We’re too young for that. Besides, I don’t see it working well in winter. My boss may complain.
Two well-aged men with great perspectives have recently reminded me how important it is to keep a great attitude, and a forward look.
Recently Stuart MacLean, on his radio show, The Vinyl Cafe, interviewed a ninety-some year old Arthur Award winner from Cape Breton. “Tell me, Angus,” he said, “what did you like better about the old days?”
Angus barely paused. “Dare were sam tings good, ‘n sam tings bad,” he said. “T’all evens up, I tink. Dem were doze days, and deez ‘r deez days.”
Angus had great attitude. So did the Apostle Paul, and he matched it with a great faith. “Forgetting what lies behind,” he said to the Philippians (my paraphrase), “I reach forward to grasp all the good God has waiting.”
Lord, give us boldness enough to let go of the old good, trust enough to seek out the new good, and hope enough to believe in your highest good. Amen.
Kathleen Gibson ponders faith and life in her newspaper column, Sunny Side Up, and on her radio spots, Simple Words, aired weekdays on numerous Christian stations.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Popular Posts
-
Write Canada is more than a professional networking conference. It’s a safe place where beginning and intermediate writers can learn ...
-
I've been writing professionally for most of my adult life. My first novel, THE JOSIAH FILES was published twenty years ago by Thom...
-
Our coordinator suggested that in our April posts on this blog site we might “write a post about who we are and what we write. . . . [and w...
-
by Linda Hall If you haven't seen the “Which Downton Abbey Character Are You?” quiz, you soon will. It’s all over Facebook. Being a...
-
No one has to tell writers that they're up against some pretty big obstacles these days. The latest Tsunami to hit the writing/publishi...
-
When I was in the seventh grade, our class was required to read a book called Jean Val Jean. As I got int...
-
God made humans in His own image. This is one of the great truths in Scripture, and many have debated what it means. As writers, we som...
-
There is a solemn new ritual in our house, one that takes place daily. My 14-year-old son Ben and my 40-something self each remove our sh...
-
My little sister, Sue. May your sleep be peaceful, free from torment and struggle Yea thou I walk through the valley of yet som...
-
I really wasn't bothered about going, because I knew I had so much to do and it was an effort to make arrangements for my elderly father...
4 comments:
Kathleen, thanks for sharing your irrepressible humour and a delightful read!
It's not surprising that you listen to Stuart MacLean's The Vinyl Cafe program.
I like the wisdom in your prayerful conclusion.
~~+~~
Peter...thought we'd lost you! Thank you for your encouragement, and I pray all is well with you.
Kathleen
Ehm. It's nice to be missed, Kathleen.
I was out of the country for most of last month, and didn't have consistent computer and internet access, so everyone had a nice break from my rather verbose commenting.
I'm sure they enjoyed it! :)
But, Peter, we like your comments. And Kathleen, I always enjoy your posts, along with the usual good humour.
Post a Comment