I was in the hallway talking to one of my students this morning when I heard, “Get out the way, Sonny.” Thinking someone was joking I turned to see an old guy, a really old guy, giving me the evil eye as he shuffled on by. This guy was so old he wouldn’t have needed the American History textbook he was carrying. He could just go in the classroom and talk about the time he ate dinner with President Lincoln. I don’t think I have been called, “Sonny” for the last six decades. Life is all about one’s perspective.
I wonder what it is about some old people who feel their advanced years give them the right to be rude. I hope when I get old I will remember to be kind. Someone told me he thought the old guy was being kind to call me “Sonny.” I do have to say it did give me a psychological lift for the day. But I could tell by the look in his eye he wasn’t interested in boosting my moral.
Age really is relative. When we were in fourth grade kids in sixth grade were really big and important. But, the promises of Jesus concerning eternal life make age irrelevant. Really, what is the difference between someone 40,000 years old as opposed to someone 50,000 years old? We could be best friends considering how close we are in age. It just won’t matter.
So go ahead and call me “Sonny.” I don’t mind. Just do it with a twinkle in your eye and smile. You can make my day. Actually you will probably make my week. I know I’ll be thinking about that old curmudgeon all this week.
Written by Roger Bothwell on October 28, 2014
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org