I Know It’s Kinda Late

I think I’m on the outskirts of middle age.  The northern outskirts, that is.  Never thought about it or saw it coming.  Once, I had the unpleasant experience of being pulled by a peace officer in the wee hours of the morning.  He said to me, “I’m surprised you didn’t see me sitting at the Dairy Queen.” I replied, “To be honest, sir, I didn’t see the Dairy Queen.” We both enjoyed that one, and he showed mercy on my lead-footed soul.  Living fast, middle-age was here before I knew it.  Now, it’s almost gone.

I’m only at middle-age if I’m going to live to be 104.  For some, middle-age may be 11 or 9.  Simply stated, we don’t know how long we’re going to live, and I’m closer to the end than the beginning.  Changeling that I am, I’m getting set in my ways.  That is, I’m more reluctant to start new tasks than ever before.  It’s time for me to take my medicine who has been preaching against getting old.  Sunsets are pretty but sad in a way.  Sometimes, I feel that the sun’s going down on me.

We are always saying that the young must not see themselves as too young to serve God.  I believe that’s true, but, also, that the converse is true.  For those more seasoned, it’s not too late in the day to be of service to God or to refuel for a great task.  I am reminded that the biblical owner of the vineyard looked for workers all day though he knew those hired last would only serve an hour.  Some may only have a brief time of service left, but that does not mean it is not valuable in God’s sight.

There are people that can do quite a lot in an hour.  Youth tend to fritter the time away, but each moment becomes precious as we age.  We may even be more focused and productive after physical strength and raw ability diminish.  We’re not as quick, but we’re smarter.  I’m not morbid by nature, but, periodically, I remind myself that the day I’m living may be my last.  That being true, I need to use my time wisely.  You may feel that it’s late in the day yourself but live it until the end.

Once, Yogi Berra was asked, “What time is it?” He queried, “You mean now?” I must confess I really don’t know what time it is.  What I do know is that I have less time left than ever before to do what I need to do.  The Second Coming of our Savior is nearer than ever before, and people have less time to make things right with God.  Jesus said we should pay attention since we don’t know how long we’ve got.  Wherever you are on the continuum, don’t let your remaining days slip away.  They may be your finest hours.

Sterl

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