When I was young I was often struck by the pessimism of many older people.It was apparent that one reason for their pessimism was over consumption of news. They would read the paper from cover to cover and they never missed the evening news. Their consumption and pessimism increased exponentially with the advent of cable news stations.

I vowed that I would not fall into this trap when I got old. Well I am old now and thanks to the proliferation of media communicating every news story from around the globe I have failed to strictly adhere to my vow.I try to avoid the news but it seeks me out where ever I go. So despite my best intentions I know more about the latest mass shooting (what an innocuous term for such horrific events) than I would wish to know. In addition I learn about earthquakes and other disastors from the far reaches of the world. It does indeed wear you down until you start to feel either dispair or even worse numb.

I have also learned much to my chagrin that old age is not for the faint of heart. Your body starts to act up and mortality is lurking just around the corner. One of my golfing buddies always reminds me that we are playing the back nine. But I still would contend that older people would be a lot more positive if they were not immersed in the news of the day.

There is however a yin to this yang. There are a few benefits to becoming old. One positive I have noticed is the richness of memories of your past. The brain does an amazing job of retaining in rich detail happy memories and it takes very little to retrieve them.One interesting facet of these recollections is the fact that the emotions that were with the original experience seem to be recreated as well. Sometimes the memories and the emotions associated with them wash over you like a warm breeze. That memory of sitting on a sun drenched back porch eating raisins from a small box that your mother just gave you is as vivid as if it just happened yesterday rather than 70 years ago.

That first grade teacher that gave you a hug when you didn’t feel good.The best parents anyone could ever hope for. Great sisters, the wonder of children and the magic of grandchildren. A spouse or partner that lights up your world.Friends that always made you laugh. Coworkers that helped you make it through the day. That dog that explodes with joy when he sees you. and the stranger that extends a gesture of kindness. Yes the world is filled with love.

When Christ was asked what was the most important commandment the answer was all about love. It is perplexing that people that profess to be his followers can be so judgmental and intolerant.

So when you look back over your life at the end of the day the memories of love are the ones that stand out. Those negative stories will be discarded onto the dust heap of history while the memories of those we have loved will live on forever. Like a thousand points of light they will illuminate the firmament until the end of time.