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Fiona’s Critique
The readers of Plain Truth are varied. Some are young, some are old and some, like me, are in between. Yet all of us are growing old. So when Malcolm Goodwin asked: ‘Is it all worth it?’ I stopped and asked myself the same question. Technically speaking, starting an article with a question is known as ‘setting an active question’. It is a ‘hook’ that draws your reader in and compels them to carry on reading until they get an answer to their question. Sometimes the answer is unexpected; sometimes it is disagreed with; sometimes it is challenging. In Malcolm’s case, the answer was comforting. In this article he addresses a deep fear and insecurity in all of us and that’s why I chose it.
Fiona’s Top Tips
by Malcolm P. Goodwin
‘Was my life really worth it?’ I hear some ageing people, like me, ask. Do they mean, was it all worth it for themselves, or was it worth it for others? An interesting question.
We can only measure our own achievements against goals or ambitions set by ourselves. The great majority of us have modest ambitions; a few have big ones.
If you have achieved those big ambitions on the backs of others, or by trampling them underfoot, does that really make you successful? If you had (as some might say) a modest ambition, then not quite achieved it, would you feel a failure?
A few ‘new third age’ readers might feel they have not achieved as much as they would have liked to. Nor, so they feel, have they left a mark as they struggle to get by on a pension depleted by others. And yet if they only knew what difference they had made to other people’s lives: a chance word that had perked someone up or given them encouragement to carry on or set them off in the right direction.
While I was an apprentice I found some masters would not always share finer trade secrets. I imagine they did this to make sure they always had the edge on us; so preserving their own jobs. Because of this, when I started to teach my trade or favourite sport, I made a point of offering the finer detail to those interested enough or studious enough to take it in. I feel it is our duty to pass down to the younger generations our skills and knowledge. Hopefully this will encourage them to be more dedicated or contented with their lives or perhaps might stimulate an ambition.
Yet I know how it feels to think, ‘Is it all worth it?’ For 25 years, my wife and I have been voluntarily keeping our church grounds in some sort of respectable shape; almost single-handedly until recently.
On many occasions we have gone home tired with aching backs and thought, ‘Is it really worth it? Who cares? Who appreciates the work?’ Even our Lord makes gardening a hard toil. No sooner have we got the grounds to their best, than he sends down rain followed by hot, life-giving sun. So in a short time everything has grown back into a wilderness again. I have thought: ‘the Lord is not helping us; and most churchgoers hardly notice anyway. Is it all worth it?’
Yes it is, because these new shoots have given us new life and turned our hands to topiary. One day, when extra long shoots reached way above a hedge we realised a cross could be formed. And so we did it. It has now become a landmark, and many passers-by have appreciated our efforts. They say it gives their spirits a lift and brightens the day. So yes, it is worth the effort, even though we know in a short time we will have to do it all again.
Sometimes youngsters say when an oldie passes by: ‘We know him, he helped us with…’ or, ‘If it wasn’t for him I would still be…’ We can’t help but make an impact on other people’s lives; perhaps without even knowing it. What adversity have you turned into a blessing? What impact have you made or do you continue to make? Hopefully, it will all be for the good and then you will know that life was worth it.
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