‘Old People Need a Dream, Not Only a Memory’

My sincere appreciation goes to Jim Murray for his article, “There’s No Hero Like an Old Hero for Our Psyche” (Jan. 1 special section).

I have never won a golf tournament, although I play twice a week; I’ve never hit a major league home run, nor rode a horse to victory, as have some of the heroes he mentioned. But I salute them, gladly and sincerely.

And in my own way, I, as Dylan Thomas, am not going gentle into the night, but rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Almost seven years ago, I had four heart bypasses. Today my health is as good as when I was 40. At 65, I retired from the Christian ministry after 45 years. Since then, I have preached 45 times in an interim capacity, or for a colleague on vacation. I walk a mile five mornings a week at a brisk pace, engage in normal physical activities. After the age of 50, I went back to graduate school for a master’s degree in psychology and counseling and now maintain a counseling office. I purposefully planned that for my retirement years.

At present, I am about halfway through a novel I am writing about the life, loves and labors of my parents whom I consider to be very unique people.

Abraham Heschel, a Jewish theologian, said it best for me:, “Old people need a vision, not only recreation. Old people need a dream, not only a memory.”

REV. THOMAS J. GIBBS JR.

Los Angeles