Celestial Navigation

A number of my good friends have been sailors. They've built boats with their own hands, raced them and been U S Navy officers; they're familiar with the stars, warm bridge coats and short watches "before the rising sun." Many of them have also been fine athletes, because sailing requires discipline, concentration and stamina.



Despite the awful jokes about God playing golf, I think He particularly likes athletes because they are using the wonderful minds and bodies He gave them for a decent purpose and refining their skills. I appreciate athletes, too, and I've always ranked them mentally as simply good athletically, good athletically and scholastically and, at the top of the heap, those who are fine athletes with excellent minds and an understanding of God's loving relationship with His people.



Throughout the New testament there are numerous references to an athletic approach to living life, "running the good race, the victor's crown," etc. We are instructed on how to dresss for combat ("put on the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, etc. "and the terms of the conflict are painted vividly. In defying sin, we are fighting all the powers of Hell. This makes every day a noble effort rather than just another game to be won or lost. Best yet, in the game God is interested in, one can lose again and again and still win, not with a desperate pass with a terrible name, but a redemption that lets us join Christ's victory at the finish line.

The game I am thinking about goes on long after we lose the ability to be good sailors or golfers. Are we still thinking about wins, as we move into our late 70's and beyond? Unless you are a household name, your experience is seemingly worth zero; a silver star or a knighthood? Forget it. Who knows, who cares? But I think, if one's motive is pure, there are innumerable things that can be done at almost any age to score big. That is certainly the way God planned it.

At the very least, many older people hope they can die well, being cheerful and without complaint. (If there is anything I am certain about it is that literally no one wants to hear about anyone's poor health.) Maybe they can still rescue someone from a car wreck, but that would probably require a small miracle. Surely, however, seniors can think up a good idea or two. Start up a charity in your basement like one of those mentioned recently in the NY Times Magazine. I like the idea of quietly or anonymously supplying some family or young person with direct financial aid, no strings attached. Share a trip or cultural event with some promising young person in school who can't afford such an experience. I have been a recruiter for my college for years, and I am pained to say that those kids who can afford mind expanding experiences almost have to score higher than those who must help tend the family's store whenever they have a free moment. Focus on women, too, they are still a long way from parity with men and they can surely do better. Who knows, when all the planets are aligned properly, what good things might happen right up to the very end.