Things Wear Out

Another early misty morning sunrise over the trees. The dew is thick this a.m. and it's too wet to sit down on deck chairs. But my coffee is hot and the air is cool, so I stand and look. I love it out here. This view, this sunrise. It draws me in. I cannot tire of looking.

And the birds. They share the space of this budding day. Flutter, perching, pecking, sharing today. This thing that captures my attention never wears out for me.

But I look around and notice that there are things that do wear out. Some things wear out with time. This Adirondack chair. It has seen better days. Been repaired many times. And now worn out. Fit for a bonfire.

And this basil plant. It too has worn out. But not from time or use. It has worn out from neglect. I suppose it got tired of trying to live with nobody tending to its needs. Water, a larger pot. Pruning, perhaps. Whatever the needs, they were not met. Now, it also must be discarded. Time for the compost pile.


Things wear out.

It is this world. It is the way.

The way for things. And the way for people.

We wear out, too.

From time.

Aging is an inevitable part of life. Sure, some fight it. Some work pretty hard to retain youth. Others age gracefully, accepting. But it comes no matter how we feel about it. How we deal with it.

But we are not, should not, be like the chair. Cast aside and deemed no longer fit for use. Just because of wearing out from time.

Set aside to wait for death.

Never let it be said of people.

Is there anyone in my life I consider old and no longer useful?

If there is such a one and I have no time for him (or her), then it is the same. The same as with the chair. And all the excuses in the world about why I have cast them aside are empty. And just excuses.

And what of neglect?

Sadly, yes. There are those who are worn our from neglect.

Wilted from years of trying to fit in.

Dried up from neglect of friendships. Relationships that water. That feed. That make space for growth.

Tired of trying. Waiting. Wanting.

It is sad. Too sad, I think.

Are there those in my life I am neglecting?

Even just a little bit?

Nobody is ever fit for the compost pile.

Not people. Not us.

Things wear out. We deal with that.

But people? No. Never let it be said of us.