|
Living to be a Burden
Lewis
Goldberg
05/1/2003
"Oldest
American, Mary Christian, dies at 113," reads the headline of a story
in the Contra
Costa Times. That the Lord was so gracious to give her such a long time
on this earth is a point to be rejoiced. The dismaying aspect of the story
is evidence of the infection of Western culture with the opinion that old
age is a time of uselessness. Mary Christian herself seems to have bought
into this disease, and though this topic has been tackled in the past by
more able-minded men, it is worth another look when such a one as this
passes on to her reward steeped in the mire of humanism.
Mary
Christian, certified the longest-living American, died of pneumonia Easter
Sunday at the Creekside Healthcare Center in San Pablo, CA. She was "[d]escribed
by those who knew her as a woman far ahead of her time." If we go by
the article, it seems few actually did know her, and therein lies the
shame. Though "independent and strong-willed almost to the end,"
what does independent and strong-willed really get us? What
does the Bible say about independence and forceful self-will? Contrast
these modern mores of free-spiritedness with what Scripture teaches about
family relations and the proper regard of elders, and we come up with a
different formula for passing our 'golden years.'
They say
every time someone dies, a book is burned. That book is the story of that
person's experiences, their struggles, their triumphs - it is the sum total
of what we may learn from our elders about who we are, where we came from,
and where we are going. The time to sit and think on lessons learned may
soften the heart to that gentle still voice of the Holy Spirit, which, of
course, is predicated on a relationship with God, [which is why unbelieving
oldsters tend to get crotchety and depressed as they age.] What we say to
our elders when we stick them in the old folks' home is that whatever they
may think they know isn't worth listening to. It should then be no surprise
that the Church, as a whole, behaves as a spiritual infant - constantly
having to 're-invent' itself rather than rely on the wisdom of the fathers.
We've collectively told our fathers to "stick it in their ear."
And now
the attitude toward age has come full circle, as we have at least one
public example of a senior keeping herself from her family so as not to be
a 'burden.' And who hasn't heard a retirement community commercial with the
supposed old woman touting her noble reluctance to be a burden on her kids?
Where once our parents died in their bed in the family home, with the
grandkids on hand to say goodbyes, now through the miracle of modern
medicine they are able to die in a geriatric warehouse, where no one has to
watch - no one who cares, anyway. How cheap we have made life - how
convenient we have made death. Cheap and convenient...that's what sells,
isn't it?
My own
life has a regretful spot in that my children and I were not able to spend
more time with their Grandma and Grandpa [my parents.] Now, my Mother lived
with us for four years, but with having four kids at the time, the house
was getting kind of crowded. She ended up moving to my cousin's house - not
close to us, but still with family. Even as her health worsened, the phrase
'nursing home' never crossed our minds. Dad was of a mind similar to the
subject of this column...he swore he'd die before he got too old to be any
trouble, and sadly he was right. I wish he would have given us a little
trouble to remember...all that's left now are boxes of papers and pictures,
and a few household items that have blended in with our stuff.
I'd
rather have had a few more years of memories.
Your comments and questions are encouraged. [editor@patriotist.com]
Patriotist
LG_the_011303.html
|
