"What do ya think yer doin'? was the question of disgust John heard as he rolled down the window."I am here to pick up my wife."
"Well this here is an intersection and ya can't stop in an intersection."
John was patient--but firm. "I was just picking someone up."
"Well ya should have pulled over there." The scrubby, cranky looking senior citizen pointed towards the driveway for the High School's maintenance entry. He was determined to make his point and reprimand John for momentarily pulling over to the curb to let me in our vehicle. I spent the day--all six periods--speaking to health classes as a volunteer. I loved what I did, but was tired. I used Velcro lips to repress the words ready to hurl anger at the elderly man. Who does he think he is?
We weren't in an intersection and were pulled to the side. I looked at the cobalt blue Parking Meter Enforcement sign on his small vehicle and figured he was retired, bored, and enjoyed his job. Why does he have to be so mean and pushy?
After a long pause, he drove forward as if to make his point by pulling up in front of us. John maneuvered the car around him and we left for home.
A little incident--nothing to give another thought to, bothered me. In the past, other situations with parking or security have been met with a nasty senior citizen delegated to hastily correct people's mistakes. Why?
Why do organizations and companies hire older people who have an angry disposition?
Why do senior citizens take a position where they must interact with the public when they obviously don't like dealing with people?
I have no right to question why someone grows old and becomes angry or miserable. Their life may have led them to the state of mind that molds their later years. But I am saddened to see senior citizens who are angry, unhappy, or mad about the fact that they are old: I want to grow old. A heart transplant in 2005 absolutely shortened my expected life span. I hope to watch God perform a miracle and let me live way beyond medical expectations. But I want to do whatever I can to be kind, gentle, loving, appreciative, and a good example if I get to be a senior citizen.
I expect that if we love the Lord, God, if we do good, and if we love kindness and justice, it is possible to carry these traits into the latter years of our lives.
"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8 NASB)
Lord, pierce my heart with your love and mercy and do not let me fall into a state of anger and vindictiveness. Show me the way to live with honor and kindness so that in my last days your love will be sufficient. Amen
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