Saturday, October 10, 2020

Elderly people wear the crown of long experience, and they can boast of nothing finer than their fear of the Lord. (Sirach 25:6)

What about our kupuna? Everyone has heard so much during this time about the dangers we elders face - how devastating the virus can be in older people. And of course it’s true. If we become infected with any nasty entity we are more likely to be in danger of serious illness or worse. Covid or not, this reality becomes truer for all of us the older we get. And it’s not only germs for which we must watch. There are the everyday hazards: tripping over an item left on the floor; slipping in the bathtub, navigating stairs, ingesting food or drink that causes digestive grief, and on and on. Elderhood is rife with dangers every day, however in general we tend to make the necessary adjustments.

In informally surveying a few other senior parishioners, I found they are taking this pandemic pretty much in stride. For many of them, especially the oldest, life has not changed too much at all. For others, time at home has allowed for more gardening, doing long-ignored chores, caring for grandchildren, spending time getting to know their adult children better; and life is quieter in general. The difficulties we face are about the same as everyone else. We miss going to church, seeing friends, and having the freedom to go places. Also, breathing through a mask, while trying to understand what other masked people are saying, can be challenging. Sometimes we wonder if this whole thing is a well-deserved divine punishment.

Overall, we elders are doing relatively well. Most of us do not demonstrate a great fear of the virus. It’s just one more challenge that we can negotiate. We appreciate the concern of our adult children, sometimes to the point of not wanting elder parents to leave home at all, but have faith for we have been around long enough to figure out what we need to do.

Thanks be to God for the love and kindness shown to us in these difficult times, and also for the wisdom that comes with years.

Teena Urban