In recent days I have had two most enjoyable experiences. In both cases it involved time spent with two gentlemen several years older than myself. This says something about their age as I have already celebrated my own three score and ten years.
The first event involved three hours of delightful conversation and reminiscing with a long term friend. This wasn’t just sitting on a front porch in a rocking chair. The first two hours were spent driving no more than a mile from home while noting the changes in our town.
I have lived here only about nineteen years. This community had been the home of my older friend for most of his life. His description of businesses, homes, streets, and most of all, the personalities that had shaped the town made local history come alive.
After our time in the car, we spent the final hour in a local coffee shop continuing our conversation over drinks and sandwiches. Often he paused and apologized for having forgotten names or dates for events. I assured him I had the same problem.
When I took him home, I could see the change. His step was a little livelier and his smile a little broader. Yes, he had forgotten bits of history, but it was obvious in our looking back through the years, he remembered people and events long forgotten. It only took a short drive around town and a grilled cheese sandwich to reclaim the memories. Time well spent.
An extended conversation by phone brought about much the same result in another older gentleman. He had been absent from the Bible study I lead each week at the local Senior Center. His upcoming surgery was a concern for our group.
With his permission I called him to check on how he was doing. For the next hour he explained the details of what he was facing, the preliminary doctor visits he would have to have, and with what he was dealing on a day to day basis. His attitude was optimistic and he looked forward to rejoining our Bible study “family” soon.
During our hour of sharing, few subjects were left uncovered. It appeared my friend had had few opportunities in the recent past to share his opinion on his favorite topics. My call and willing ear gave him that open door to opine on the conditions of the world both macro and micro.
The tenor of the conversation rapidly cycled between laughter and critique, between jokes and seriousness, between hope and disappointment. In all ways there was an uninhibited freedom to express long held viewpoints and perspectives. Limitations may have existed in some fashion with mobility, but they did not extend to a willingness to share life. Time well spent.
Time is a most precious commodity. How we use this precious possession reveals our value systems and priorities. Each day we have is restricted to twenty-four hours. We all have the same number of hours each day even if we have a different number of years. Each of those hours is precious.
The question for each of us is what does our use of time reflect about our values and our priorities. I suggest bringing an interruption in the loneliness, or even aloneness in the life of another who is alone too often, is time well spent.
Jesus once said about doing good for others, “The King will reply, "I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!' (Good News Bible)
