Treasures of Age

The coverage of the life of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has revealed much about him younger generations (well anyone below 50) simply did not know.   For the last two decades or so his public persona has been as an increasingly elderly man slowly fading from the national scene.   It’s been quite a revelation to many, including myself, all that he had done in his earlier years and midlife and the profile he had.  This included helping to modernise the monarchy, encourage a more innovative and science friendly Britain, as well of course his role in the D of E scheme and the World Wildlife Fund.

When a new minister comes to a church and meet our older church members it can be easy to forget that they were young once and in the full vigour of life.  The church too may have been younger and more energetic too, since churches, like people, have their own lifecycles.    And of course as we pass older folk in the street or the supermarket it is so easy to see them as perhaps many of us looked at Prince Philip, slightly on the edge of things, slowly fading and increasingly frail.

Any yet, and yet, within those old bones and tired eyes, weak legs and forgetful mind, there still lives all the memories and legacy of years gone by, the richness of friendships and the vigour of doing your bit to make the world a better place.   I really wish there was a way of recognising such treasures of age and honouring the contribution our older folk have made.   This why it is important to take the time to hear one another’s stories and ask specific questions that brings some of these memories to the surface.     

Like Prince Philip, some older folk I know take a rather diffident view of the past and don’t want too much attention or praise for what they have done.  They may even agree with him here:  There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded that the years are passing—ever more quickly—and that bits are dropping off the ancient frame. But it is nice to be remembered at all. 

And yet as the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  so we fix our eyes no on what is seen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.   This is especially resonant in this Easter season.  Ageing Is not ‘a light and momentary trouble’ in the context of our human story but in the view of eternity it is and that is the Christian hope.  

Age has its own treasures which must be sought and valued for they are not to be found casually or lightly but with perseverance and faith and the ability to look beyond the obvious and see what burns still ever fierce out of sight.