Feeble: An issue for readers to decide
Today’s column will discuss two distinct topics or issues. First, an answer to those who were offended by the use in last week’s column of the word “feeble” in describing the man in the rocking chair on the cover of the section devoted to retirees.
Then we will look at the everpresent debate and remarks made on gun control in the United States and how the issue is completely distorted.
This is an apology, or should I say explanation, to all those who were offended by the expression “feeble 80-year-old man” describing a man in a rocking chair with the citation “Rocking in Retirement.” There was no intention of offending anyone or hurting anyone’s feelings. Still, some thought it was hard-hearted and surely lacked compassion to describe the man as “feeble.”
To get to the heart of this matter, I am going to let you as readers of the expression determine whether the description was inappropriate or mean. By the way, the old man in the picture was not identified. I have been informed that he will turn 81- years- old by the time anyone sees this column. By citing some characteristics, of the man you can decide whether the fellow is feeble or not.
His steps are not as steady as just a couple of years ago. He has for several years declared to people in bleachers at athletic contests that you could tell when a person is getting old when they have to touch the shoulder of someone sitting on the end of the bleacher to maintain balance as they go down the steps.
It is difficult for the man to maintain balance while putting his foot in the leg of his shorts or pants when dressing in the morning. It has become more difficult to rise out of a chair in the living room and walk across the room. That leads to staying in the seated position for long periods of time once getting in a comfortable position in a chair. It seems that a trip to the kitchen or bathroom (however necessary it might seem) is much too far and not worth the trouble.
The man has embraced the practice so prevalent in the life of one growing old and that is when you see him traveling around town, he is always in the passenger seat and his wife is driving. Also, whereas just a couple of years ago the man would take to the highway for long trips to see his friend in middle Florida or his own children in distant states, the miles now seem too long and he stays home for long periods at a time.
And here is a biggie: Whereas just a few years ago the man would jump at the chance to go see his favorite college team play football, he now declares he has probably gone to his last college game. And then, for one who once would see the Braves for 20 to 30 times a season can no longer find the energy or interest to travel to Atlanta. It has nothing to do with winning or losing; his 20 times of going a season was back when the Braves were not very competitive. And it wasn’t as expensive.
Finally, the little chores of life seem like mountain climbing expeditions. There are so many more characteristics of feebleness but we will let these suffice for the moment. Now, you as a reader decide if “feeble old man” was mean. I could have written “a feeble, ugly old man.” That would have been accurate also.
Yes, people are being killed in shocking manners and numbers these days. Whenever a tragedy happens, there is a cry from newscasters up to higher government officials for more gun- control laws. I do not hesitate to say that approach is the most illogical one can imagine. Neither laws on the book nor enforcement personnel are adequate to prevent terrible atrocities being inflicted on humanity. The great inconsistence here is that in all the proclamations by government officials – even by the President – no one even mentions the real issue: a trained heart.
Listen to Jesus as He says, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness blasphemies….” ( Matt. 15: 19). And then there is the admonition from Proverbs 4: 23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life…”. And then someone said, “The heart of all training is the training of all the heart.”
Is it not strange that while in all this emphasis on writing more laws there is at the same time the movement to lessen the influence of God and the Bible among our young and in our schools? What we all ( I include myself) need is a training of the heart and we will respect the laws we already have.