25but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer.
Mandatory retirement at age 50. That seems very young by today’s standards, but back then, not many people lived to age 50. Since the time of the flood the length of life has dramatically been reduced. People lived into their hundreds. Now they are into their 80s. Notice that the next verse says they can help out if they want to. They don’t have to sit at home and do nothing. We waste such a great resource when we don’t find fruitful places for our retirees to serve. They have wisdom that the younger generations need and desire. But our society has forced them out. We don’t allow them to volunteer their time at the office. If they talk slowly, we hastily push them aside and go on to the next task. “Time is money” we say. But for some, their fruitfulness has only increased over time. Perhaps their fingers are not as nimble as they used to be. Perhaps they take longer to get up the stairs. But they have lived through and overcome so many obstacles that it is a shame we waste this resource. Maybe they can’t carry that hod of bricks up the ladder anymore, but their usefulness is not expended. My mother who is in her 80s helps young kids learn to read every week. My dad used to serve on the board of their condo association, saving them tens of thousands of dollars a year in wise business investments. Just because we are older does not mean we are useless.
The Arnold Journey 