AND now, continuing our theme of old age, let me speak of ITS OPPORTUNITIES.
At one time the coins of Spain were stamped with the two pillars of Hercules. These were representative of the two promontories of the rock of Gibraltar. Over the figure a scroll was stamped, with the words ”Ne plus ultra"—"No more beyond". But when Columbus sailed far beyond those pillars, and discovered a new world, Spain changed her coins. The word “Ne” was struck off, leaving “plus ultra "—" more beyond ". Now, you may have been thinking that, since you have given up business, it is henceforth for you to be "ne plus ultra"; that after retiral there is no more that you can do. But that is far from being the case. Indeed, unless you get rid of that idea immediately you are likely to suffer for it. For it is literally true that:
" Our tasks may glow like jewels, or coruscate like gems,
But once their motive is withdrawn the deadly ebb begins;
We call it ' hardened arteries ', ' pneumonia ' and ' flu ',
But men will die of heartbreak when they've nothing left to do."
Listen to these words from an old writer: “The influence of a Christian in old age is one of cumulative and peculiar power. It gathers into itself the forces of long-tried character, and is rich in ripened experience. The work which a Christian man does in his closing years of life often has a spiritual vitality in it which that of his busier manhood had not. Blessed is the life that, as it draws nearer to eternal realities, in the lessening of its hold on things present, and increasing quietness of outward action, discovers the calm trust, the joy in peace, the strong confidence in things eternal and invisible, that make old age a sunset hour that fears no night, but waits the breaking of the morning. There is service still to render in the ministry of a life that exemplifies the gifts of the Spirit—a service that is more abundant in its fruitage than those who bestow it realize. There are victories still to be won. Physical disabilities and weakness often cause depression and heaviness of heart. Sometimes the memories of the years gone by fill the horizon of thought and feeling with swift flying clouds, whose shadows dim the sunshine. But there is given to the waiting, trusting heart the victory of faith. Heaven lies back of the clouds. The chastening of divine love through weariness and pain ripens the fruit of righteousness."
When is a man at his best?
Correspondence on this subject appeared in one of London's leading newspapers a few years ago, and elicited some very interesting facts. Sir George Birdwood led off by saying that "the older a man is, so long as he is quite fit, the better he is intellectually —the broader his vision, the saner and wiser his outlook, and the more mature his opinions". And then there came this letter:
“to the Editor of the Daily Mail.
Sir—It is not good for the race to believe that a man's best days are over at sixty. It tends to break down man's energy, and prevents him from utilizing the best that is within him—the best that has come from years of experience and work.
“There are figures to show that the greatest productivity of man's life lies in the decade between his sixtieth and seventieth year. The method adopted to learn the actual facts relating to man's working period was as follows:
" Some four hundred names of the most noted men in all times, from all lines of activity, were chosen. There were statesmen, painters, warriors, poets, and writers of fiction, history, and other prose works. Opposite to the name of each man was indicated his greatest work or achievement. This list was then submitted to critics, to learn their opinion of the greatest work of each man submitted. The names of their greatest works were accepted, or altered, until the list was one that could be finally accepted. After this was done the date at which the work was produced was placed after the name, and so the age was ascertained at which the individual was at his best. The list was then arranged according to decades.
“It was found that the decade of years between sixty and seventy contained thirty-five per cent of the world's greatest achievements. Between the ages of seventy and eighty, twenty-three per cent of the achievements fell; and in the years after eightieth, six per cent.
“In other words, sixty-four per cent of the great things of the world have been accomplished by men who had passed their sixtieth year; the greatest percentage, thirty-five, being in the seventh decade.
“The figures for the other periods of life are interesting. Between the fiftieth and the sixtieth years are found twenty-five per cent, between forty and fifty, ten per cent. These, all totaled together, leave the almost negligible quantity of one per cent to be attributed to the period below the age of forty.
“Two great classes of work fall below the forty year limit. These are the deeds which require the extreme of physical power and vim, as the conquests of Alexander the Great; and the beautiful expression of the lyric poetry, which is typified by the nervous, super-sensitive temperament of such men as Shelley and Keats. But, taken as a whole, the figures prove conclusively that the period of the greatest achievement in a man's life comes, not when he is in his youth, but only with the years of mature manhood.
(Signed) Martin Sherwood."
It is indeed very remarkable to find, thus recorded, that only one per cent of the world's greatest achievements were accomplished by men before they reached the age of forty, while sixty-four per cent were effected after the age of sixty, and six per cent after even the eightieth year. Dr. W. F. Johnson of India says: “Counting pulpit, class-room, and press work, the ten most useful years of my life as a missionary, were those between the years of seventy and eighty."
Let there be no more talk, therefore, of you young men, of between sixty and eighty years of age, settling down and doing nothing. By acting in that way you may be robbing the Church and the world of some of the choicest gifts with which God intends to enrich them.
A charming story is told of Sylvester Horne, the great London preacher. He told his friend, Kingscote Greenland, that he had just preached a sermon to old men and women, and asked him to guess what his text was. “Oh," said Mr. Greenland, " Come unto Me all ye that are weary." “No,” responded Mr. Home. “At eventide it shall be light?" “No," again responded Mr. Home. “What was it then?” queried Mr. Greenland. "Well," said Mr. Home, “I took as my text: 'He went out into the market-place about the eleventh hour and said, Go ye also into my vineyard’." Isn't that beautiful?
We cannot more fittingly close our reflections on this part of our theme than by making as our own, the prayer of the venerable and superlatively-gifted Canon Bernard, whose writings have enriched the Church of God for all time:
“While closing day leaves something still to do,
Some deeper truth to learn, some gift to gain,
Let me with cheerful mind my task pursue,
And, thankful, glean the fragments that remain.
“From distant years if tearful memories rise,
Dear scenes and faces known on earth no more,
Unchanging Friend, to Thee I turn mine eyes,
And all my sadness in Thy bosom pour.
“Draw nearer to me: let these days be blessed
By thoughts familiar with the things to be;
And varying feelings find their perfect rest
In one sweet hope—to be at Home with Thee."
"They shall still bring forth fruit in old age."