Grandma Moses began painting when she was 77 years old. That gives me great hope. So often we think if we don't accomplish something great by a certain age it will never happen. Or, even more discouraging, if we don't realize a dream we've cherished by a certain age it is simply too late.
I think we have seasons of our lives. In our youth we are often just too busy with the "business" of living. We don't have the time to pursue the "dream". However, the day comes when we do have the time. The nest is empty. There is more time to begin that pursuit. I thought it would be encouraging to see what some people accomplished in their later years:
Winston Churchill wrote "A History of the English-speaking Peoples" at age 82.
Goethe completed "Faust" at age 80.
At age 99 Harold Mark Foster of Owensboro, KY began learning to read.
Katherine Pelton swam the 200 meter butterfly in 3 minutes 1.14 seconds, beating
the men's world record for the 85-89 age group by over 20 seconds.
Frances Peyton Rous became the oldest Nobel Prize Laureate at age 87
At age 88 Michelangelo created the architectural plans for the Church of
Santa Maria degli Angela
Artur Rubinstein performed one of his greatest recitals in Carnegie Hall at age
89
Pablo Picasso was still producing drawings and engravings at age 90.
Albert Schweitzer ran a hospital in Africa when he was 89 years old.
At age 91 Hulda Crooks climbed Mt. Whitney
Margaret Ringenburg flew around the world when she was 72.
Alice Porlock of Great Britain published her first book "Portrait of My
Victorian Youth" when she was 102 years old.
It is never too late to do the thing God has placed on your heart!
This is a repost from 2007. I find it appropriate for two reasons, one that sort of builds on the other. The first reason is - I am officially old. At age 65, I am listed among the ranks of the elderly (came as a shock to me too!). The second reason is - I am working on the thing God has placed on my heart.
I am going to repost some posts for a couple of weeks so that I can work on the dream. The little book is growing. I don't know what will become of it. For now it is enough to just to do it. It brings such joy. I am surprised by the joy.
If anyone would like to do a guest post here, I would love that. The only stipulation is that it is a good fit for this little place. Just let me know.
Blessings,
Linda
