Splendor in the Roots

In our fast-paced world, how much time do we stop to think about the people that are responsible for the person we have become? Sure, we think about our spouses and our children. We may even think about our parents or grandparents. When we think about parents and grandparents, do we ever consider that they will get older and our roles may be reversed? Once we obtain the success that we have always wanted, do we cast them aside because we feel that there is nothing that they can do for us any longer? Are we so busy that we can’t pick up a phone, get dinner, or just visit? We say that we believe every individual matters, but why are we so quick to throw away our elderly population? We live during a time when the elderly live on fixed incomes (social security), and when we examine the monthly amount that they receive, it’s not enough to survive. They need help, supplemental income, and care. Many of the elderly population face living alone in unseen, unheard, and unthought of conditions. Some should not live alone. On a fixed income, many are relegated to income-based senior homes and apartments. Many become lonely and depressed, and it doesn’t have to be this way if they have family or a community. After a certain age, our elderly should not live alone because social interaction becomes paramount to their overall well-being. They live for getting up for breakfast, having coffee with friends, playing games, and going out for an excursion. The circle of friends become their livelihood.

When I think of the elderly, they remind me of the stages of a tree. First there is a seed that is planted, and this seed must be watered in order to grow. The essential part of this planting and nurturing is to produce roots. Our walk with Christ started with a watered seed that produced a wonderful outcome. This is our elderly. Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” This is the beginning of who we are, and let us not forget that as we plant our seeds, we become that solid tree for the next generation. If our elderly had not planted or taught us to plant seeds, we would not exist. Matthew 13:6 states “But when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.”

Nurturing seeds take us into the the seasons of sprouting and sapling which is representative of  the years of growth from childhood to adulthood. This is the time that we experience life, mature, reflect, define and redefine purpose. During these years we feel needed, wanted, respected because we feel that we have an assignment. But as the seed is deeply rooted and presents itself as a full grown tree, we start neglecting and stop looking for the beauty and the purpose in it. We are no longer interested in how the tree got to this point; we just know that it exists. Within these roots lie the explanation of life and wisdom that is passed on to others. So these are the days of the elderly. Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. (Job 12:12) 

Their lives are a history and culmination of experiences and practices that inspire lessons and wisdom for living. With this plethora of knowledge, why would we throw away such valuable treasures? The hurtful reality is that we are a country that puts our elderly away as though they have been put out to pasture to graze. Some of the sad truth is seen in nursing homes, assisted living, and memory care units. People are put away as families live within 10 miles of them and visit only once every six months. Holidays come and families visit for 15 minutes and feel that they have fulfilled an obligation that gets in the way of their time. The horrible truth is that some are waiting for loved ones to pass on to glory in order to get the inheritance. The elderly are not without feelings, and they are very aware of when they have been discarded or when they have become or are considered a burden. There is a sense of brokenness. What we totally overlook is the splendor of the gray hair, the experiences of crooked, arthritic fingers, the wisdom in the memories, and the sincere love in the slow speaking voices. When we fail to see the beauty in the elderly, we cut the tree down into pieces and leave it. The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. (Proverbs 20:29)

Sharing my thoughts about the elderly, my horticulturist colleague (Saving Souls, One Plant at a Time) told me a story about his latest outing to the grocery store. Like so many of us that decide that we need to run to the store for one or two items that turn into six, seven, eight items, we don’t feel the need to get a basket or cart. Well, the horticulturist found “the prettiest, green zucchini,” and in his admiration of his find he dropped that fine specimen into the floor. Of course, it broke into two pieces. He was going to return it to the pile and pick another one, but he thought that it was just too beautiful and still had some salvageable qualities about it. He took it home, washed it off, and cooked it. In the midst of this he paused to think, “I am glad I brought this home because when I was broken, Jesus didn’t put me back or give me away!” Humbling, isn’t it? So remember, we want to live to become elderly. We want to have purpose. We want to give thanks that Christ doesn’t throw us away because we get fragile (or broken), slow-moving, or elderly. If there is an elderly person in your life that you have neglected, take the time today to change the situation. Appreciate the seeds planted that grow into that tree of life!  

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