My wife and I have been recently watching the television series, “The Crown.” It has been fascinating to learn so much about the modern history of England and the United Kingdom.
In a recent episode we learned a little about Princess Alice who was the mother of Prince Philip. As she was lying in bed, nearing death, at 84 years of age, she made the following statement:
“There came a moment around the time I turned 70, when it dawned on me that I was no longer a participant, rather a spectator. And it’s just a matter of waiting and not getting in the way.”
That sad statement grabbed my attention because I see this plight in the lives of many people. They work hard at their career, oftentimes, with the end game being to retire. However, upon doing so, unless they replace it with something else of significance, they find themselves no longer a “participant” in making a difference in the world around them.
Too many people with energy and decent health have sidelined themselves in a manner that just leaves them to be spectators in life. And when that happens, like Princesses Alice, they are simply “waiting around” for life to conclude and are trying to not get “in the way.” This is a depressing scenario.
At age 70, many individuals are just hitting their stride. They have gained the wisdom and experience that can enable them to do some of their best work – whether continuing to work in their chosen field; volunteering at places like “Head Start,” “Meals on Wheels,” or any number of churches or organizations, or perhaps helping take care of grandkids. There are numerous opportunities to continue to serve our fellowman that weren’t available to us when we were younger.
So, I want to encourage you today – Step away from that rocking chair, continue to “get in the way” and be a participant!