The Old Age Book

 

 

It’s not a very inviting theme

But I still dare to have a look,

Given the time that I’ve been around

I guess I’m listed in this book.

 

Seventy years the Psalmist said

And if by reason of strength, four score,

From this we must conclude

At least, seventy unlocks this door.

 

But this was in the Psalmist’s time

And maybe it’s different today

Hence my question, when does old come?

What do you have to say?

 

“You are as old as you feel,”

I have heard some of the old ones say

And others, “Age is just a number”

And you can tell by their way.

 

These advocates dress up young

 And they behave like they are young

Even though their contemporaries

Oft look at them with a frown.

 

“Why don’t they act their age?”

“Boy, they are really desperate though,”

“Why don’t they behave before the young

And a better example show?”

 

So, when does old age begin?

Tell me, I would really like to know,

Is it at fifty or sixty or seventy

Or only when it begins to show?

 

 

Then it might be as early as forty

But we can’t go any further back,

Remember, impressions are only feelings

And they should not count as facts.

 

I must admit that I feel good

Though I’ve reached three score and ten

But if you ask when last I swam

I cannot tell you when.

 

I ride a little bit and I walk

Though not nearly as much as before

And the aches and pains remind me

To take it easy as I go.

 

No more St. Lucy treks for me

Or even the Grantley Adams Airport,

Back in the day I could easily do it

And for me then it was sport.

 

So, if I were to answer this question:

When does old age come,

Honestly, I would definitely have to say,

My youth is certainly done.

 

And it has been for a while,

For sure since I went into retirement

And I will not wine and lament-

At my age I am content.

 

I may not have answered it for you

And in a sense, I am extremely glad,

Pretend for as long as you can if you can

But old age is not all bad.

 

I get to be own-way a bit

And they wait on me hand and foot

And often they don’t know that I know

Some things I deliberately overlook.

 

 

Sometimes they say I have lost it

And sometimes they are absolutely right

But often, I can tell you they don’t know

It was a purposeful oversight.

 

I get to keep them guessing,

“Is he serious or is he joking?”

You see, in my old age show I am starring

And they are merely participating.

 

I issue the scripts and the parts,

They subjectively follow my lead

And given the fact that I am in charge

I determine their speed.

Check the old age book

And for sure you will find my name,

Old age has caught up with me

But thank God I am still sane.

 

Stewart Russell © May 26, 2023

 

Impeached but Exonerated

 

 

Impeached but exonerated

And I am not talking about Trump,

He would have to deal with that

On his own account.

 

I am talking about me

And what I have been through

And you who are reading this,

What you’ve been through too.

 

I was impeached and found guilty

Simply because I was born,

Most would find that unusual

Because it’s not the norm.

 

What is the crime in being born

Would be the question to ask,

If Adam and Eve were alive

I would give them that task.

 

However, since they are not

I will point you to God’s Word

Even though something tells me

You have already heard.

 

Let us ask the Psalmist

And we will see what he says,

Shaped in iniquity and conceived in sin

That’s how it was way back in the day.

 

So, we were born into sin

That, my friend is the norm,

Consequently, one is counted a sinner

From the very day he is born.

 

Hence the first part of the theme

Impeached from my birth,

Yes, I was impeached

Before I even set foot on the earth.

 

But it doesn’t end there

And I truly thank God for this

And so, I come to the part

That I don’t want you to miss.

 

So as in Adam every man sinned

In Christ every man can access pardon,

Yes! Exonerated in Christ Jesus

Ever since I’ve been forgiven.

 

 

Impeached on Adam’s account

But exonerated through Jesus Christ

Not on any merit of my own

But because of Christ’s sacrifice…

 

When on that first Good Friday

When before the heavenly court

He shouted “Father forgive them!”

Therein is my support.

 

Now being one of the “whosoever”

That believes in Jesus Christ,

I am exonerated through the blood

That will always suffice.

 

Impeached because of Adam

Exonerated in Christ,

If the same can be said about you

I would think that’s quite nice.

 

Stewart Russell © January 25, 2021

 

God’s Love and Power

Love without power

Is merely that

Power without love

Is a perilous trap

In the first case

Nothing much doing

In the second, however,

Much trouble brewing

Of course there’re some

With a bit of both

But it’s friends and family

Whom they toast

Some express authority

With little care

For those who get hurt

And create much fear

Then there are some

Who do what they can

But with little power

Not much of a plan

Some aspects of power

Are money and fame

Status and position

Are two others I’ll name

Without agape love

These are mostly contained

To select groups

More or less the same

If you’re not fortunate

To be in such a group

 I can suggest to you

A much better route

I have a friend

That has lots in store

An infinite amount

Who can ask for more?

  

He gives what I need

Of both love and power

He takes me through

Every day and hour

I depend on Him

For my daily supply

On His power and love

I can always rely

God’s love is infinite

And so is His power

Like the Psalmist of old

He’s my strong tower

I run into Him

In my time of need

He never fails me

In Him I succeed

His is the right balance

Of power and love

Aptly demonstrated

In His Son from above

He offers the same

To anyone today

That will deny himself

And follow His way.

Stewart Russell © February, 2018