A strong argument can be made that the Apostle Paul was not only sophisticated in his education and religious life, but also was something of an everyman in personal interests. We follow his range of illustrations as a guide to his knowledge and life. We remember that he earned a living by making and selling tents. He was a businessman. He was pleased that he did not take his personal support from any congregation he founded, at least up to the time he was writing. His letters used strong illustrations from the military, business, family, government, literature, history, even athletics. One feels that if he were living in our era he might check the daily scores, and would have had a favored team, perhaps the Antioch Saints, not the Roman Devil Rays. The depth and logic of his spiritual insights must distract us from the fact that he would have made a friendly conversationalist in a number of subjects. He would have been pleasant to be with, as a friend. Friends admired him, but likely did not afford him quite the larger than life figure we make of him. We know he had enemies. He was a remarkable man, but a man for all that.
He’s at the top of his game, is an idiom widely used. The concept is that the person gave much to gain excellence and is at pinnacle for making that objective. He is not likely to gain much more, and may be expected to go on for a bit at this level, and then taper off in slow decline indicating retirement exit. It happens to every athlete, and occurs for every surviving person in any life pattern in normal course. No matter how excellent he or she may have been there is nothing greater now to offer – except prayer. Usually there is less, in mortal reporting, for the future.
What topples or removes persons from the top of their games? The possible reasons are too many to recount here. Persons become complacent. Having achieved, they rest on their laurels. They have done enough. They should be respected to the end so to remain in gracious currency. It may not work that way. A few find new ways to overcome the inroads for a bit longer. Society generally doubts second efforts. Some persons lose by ill attitudes. These may fall to denial, to arrogance, to cheating. Accidents and ill health may interfere. Persons may have nothing more, in their opinions, to learn. So other achievers, using fresh learnings, take the place of fading stars. The main reason for decline in anything may be aging. Aging is not only accumulating years, although years do diminish one’s body and skills. The person earns the right to retire with dignity from gratifying life service. But this need not be the end. If energy permits, the venue may be changed. The achiever can do something else, perhaps without the highs of the former experience, but with meaning and legacy. Having reached a certain age, the person is presumed to be retirement fodder, and is sent into the sunset because of progression as interpreted by others. For some old timers, that isn’t acceptable. So they go on – only occasionally to new peaks. It appears that this happened for the Apostle well after the greatness of his Roman sojourn. Now he is losing his sight, and writes with large letters. He will do what he can. Various remarks from him noted the onset of age. He served well to the end – to death. So may I. So may you. We are given choice to work, play and pray. At the end, as with Paul, our best is in prayer. We never arrive at an age for prayer retirement. After years of practice it becomes the context of the devoted life – the prayer without ceasing attitude that plays on precedence. Those who achieve it know it, and feel fulfillment in it. By it influence continues, and perceptive persons recognize the contribution and encourage it. It is commencement period which closes off the old and leaves legacy going forward to a transition that takes one higher. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020