A New Reality

This morning my young friend Luke is coming to replace our attic fan.  The attic fan  began to make an awful racket a week or so ago.  I went up to check it out and it looked to be about as old as I am (it isn’t, but it looked it).  Ten years ago I would have gone out and bought a new fan and replaced it myself.  Not now!  I didn’t know who to call to handle the situation.  You see, the fellows who use to be available to help me with such things are no longer able or no longer around.  Who to call?  

Ten years ago I decided to remodel one of the bathrooms in our home.  While ripping out the old tile, I was thrown backward against the wall and cracked some ribs.  Ouch!  That was painful.  I couldn’t finish the job.  I called on Luke’s dad, Tom.  He and his two sons and helpers are busy contractors, building new homes and remodeling others, installing new roofs and other major jobs.  Remodeling a little bathroom wasn’t on their “to do” list.  But they came—and bailed me out!

A few years later I was trying to widen our driveway (to make room for our little RV)—and while digging out the area I injured my back.  I couldn’t finish the task.  Who to call?  Who would be willing to finish off such a small project?  I called Tom and his boys.  They finished the job and bailed me out again!

I’ve known Tom and his family for years.  I’ve known Luke since he was a little boy.  He is now married and has three children.  Luke and his brother are now running the business.  Over the years, they have installed a new roof on our home,  installed new windows, doors, and as indicated above, bailed me out of some embarrassing situations. I’m so very grateful.  And now—this morning—Luke is going to replace the attic fan.

But the point I wanted to make when I began writing this morning was that I’m not as young or as limber or as energetic as I use to be.  This is the new reality and it often frustrates me.  The world told me long ago, “When you were young you were dependent and could not go where you wanted, but when you grow old you will be able to make your own decisions, go your own way, and control your own destiny.” But Life now tells me something different.  In these new golden years I am increasingly aware that I’m not in control, nor do I wield any power, nor can I go my own way.  I do not mean that I am simply a passive victim of this new maturity—rather I mean that I am beginning to understand Jesus’ words to Peter and realizing how often it seemed “easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life.”  I’m still learning!

Basking in this new Golden Age of "great" grandad!