CHRISTIAN VIEWPOINT: Are you a grumpy old man or woman? Here's an idea...
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I read the irate comments on a Facebook page about active travel in Inverness. “Grumpy old men,” I smiled, writes John Dempster.
A friend who came out of retirement to help with the Covid vaccination programme told me when it was over he was “back to being a grumpy old man!”
Another friend was grumpy before he was even decently old!
What is it with old men (and women too, I suppose) and grumpiness? Do we feel sidelined, aliens in a young people’s world which no longer feels like home? Are we regretful about the opportunities we missed when we were young? Or just enjoying the grumpy persona, the community of grumpiness?
Of course there are grumpy old people in churches too – grumpy about changes in worship, declining numbers, the music… “And ministers just aren’t what they used to be!”
I don’t think grumpiness is ever helpful, even though it can at times be endearing. There is, however, room for challenging thinking from older people – including constructive suggestions about active travel plans.
We older people, with some experience and wisdom have the opportunity to do something about things that matter – making a difference to tomorrow’s world both in church and in community. What issues are close to our hearts? Climate change? Social inequality? The government’s £4 billion aid budget cut? Food poverty? Lack of investment in play parks? Factory farming?
What church issues inspire us? How to express the love of God in the community? How to share a faith which brings not fear but true freedom?
Let us be silver campaigners, rather than the grumpy old, willing to change and to work for change!
I wondered if there were any grumpy old men in the Bible: what came to mind was the opposite – an extremely contented old man.
Simeon had a God-given sense that there was hope, that God was active, that he would live to see the Messiah through whom God would make all things well. Having held baby Jesus in his hands, having held the future in his hands he prayed: “Now may your servant depart in peace.”
This hope – Jesus – is our hope. Whatever the future may bring, we believe God’s love will not fail.
Sometimes we’ve seen God as a grumpy old man above the clouds irascible, sarcastic, quick to criticise and judge. Simeon glimpsed God’s true identity – a wellspring of healing love.
And it is that love which will sustain us beyond the days of our silver campaigning, bringing a certain contentment despite the challenges of frailty and age. Secure, until the time comes to depart in peace.
READ: CHRISTIAN VIEWPOINT: Don’t race through life and miss the important stuff
