ALL IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER

The other day Arlena and I were on our way to the grocery store. We were in the left-hand lane on Route 19. A car just ahead of us on the right was trying to get into our lane, but the car to his left would not slow down enough to allow him to do so. My wife said out loud to the driver in front of us (who obviously could not hear her, but she said in anyway) “Let that old man and his wife in.” He didn’t but I did.

When the car to our right moved in front of us, I glanced at the white hair on the head of that “old man” who was driving the car. I said, “I wonder what the people think about the old man driving this car with all that white hair on his head?” It’s all in the eye of the beholder. The people in front of us were old because the driver had white hair. The truth is, we may be older than they are, white hair not always signifying advanced age.

Besides, how old is “old”? In the past I used to do a Communion Service for the people who live in the retirement community in our area. My wife and I are planning on joining one of these communities when the time comes, meaning when we are too old and no longer have the desire to take care of our home and property. That time has not come. However, one of the members of that community reminds me when I see her that we are old enough to move it. We may be that old, but we are not that old.

There are, in other words, members of that community who are indeed younger than we are who are that old. In their eyes and minds they no longer want or are able to take care of a home and all that goes with it. They are happy with their decisions. We will make ours when that time comes, which I hope will be many years down the line. But, of course, only time will tell.

We are thankful, very thankful, for our health, that we can live where we so desire and are not forced because of circumstances beyond our control to do that which we would rather not. There are those younger than we are we still can and do what we can and do but would rather not. In their eyes and minds it’s time to move on. They see life differently than we do.

It is always easy to make decisions for others. It is also often very difficult to make those same decisions for ourselves. We think we can see clearly what another should or should not do but are often blinded to what we should or should not do. It may be human nature but it is also a fact of life. And age makes no difference here either. Young and old alike are blinded to the truth because the truth is often very difficult to accept. So we fool ourselves and often make fools of ourselves in the process.

Seeing clearly, being honest with ourselves, making wise decisions is something each and every one of us must strive for in our daily lives, again, young and old alike. One of the saving graces in growing older is that we do become older and wiser and make better decisions. But not always. For whatever reason, there are times in the lives of each one of us, no matter our age, when we blind ourselves to reality and fail to see what everyone else can see. The eyes of the beholder can be deceived. We should never forget that.