Older people have different eyes. They’ve seen more heartache. They’ve shed more tears. The eyes of an old person have squinted into more sunlight. They’ve laid awake more nights. Old eyes aren’t just old – they’re tired.
Young people have brighter eyes. Lord willing, the years will bring greater wisdom to their eyes one day. And wisdom is visible in the eyes. As a window into the soul the eyes reveal much about what goes on behind them. The thoughts and concerns of the old are different than the young – and so it’s reasonable that their eyes are also different.
Part of old age is the yearning to pass on the wisdom gained by experience, learning and time. It’s not always possible and often improbable, but those thoughts behind the eyes want expression. Sometimes, the only release possible are the eyes themselves. Words often fail, but the eyes never lie.
If walls could talk. Sometimes we consider such odd questions, but too rarely do we consider older, wiser heads. Bald or gray, wrinkled and worn – the old (or older) aren’t considered much of a natural resource. More and more they’re burdens to be borne by the younger. A drag on society, health-care and our Social Security system. But if those eyes could talk…Wait, they can. They do.
Sadly, by the time our eyes have something vital to say – nobody listens. Alas, we’re old. Too old to really know today’s challenges. Too old to be considered relevant. Too old to be up-to-date.
Love is still expressed in the eyes of the old. You see it when an old man grabs the hand of his wife, the love of his life for over 60 years. You see it when an old man holds the hand of a granddaughter as they cross the street. You see it when an old woman lights up at the gift of a bouquet of flowers. The eyes don’t lie. They see what they see and express the feelings and faith of the mind – however sharp or dim they may be.
Old eyes make us better. They watchd out for us when we were children. They protected us through the storms of our teen years. They lovingly guided us as we entered adulthood. They cherish our offspring and dote on their grandchildren – fully embracing the challenge to pass their wisdom onto another generation before death closes their eyes and silences them.
Time is short. Life shorter. Old eyes have too few days and too much wisdom.
