Okay, let’s try this again. Where we left off I’d just turned 75. I suppose that was such a shock I didn’t write for a year.* Maybe it was an effort to stop time; but here I am.
Birthdays, overrated. Something to look forward to when we’re very young, something not so welcome at the other end.
My funny uncle would talk about the maladies of old age as a result of candles. “Candles?” “Yes, too many of them . . . on the cake!”
For all that, here’s a saying from a sage: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might (for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planting nor knowledge nor wisdom).” **
It’s a great statement, one I’ve often cited, and need to now again, particularly as the latter segment looms ever nearer.
I must confess the retirement mentality (the dreaded “R” word), has been creeping upon me. Thoughts of new goals and ideas that have ever been the rising waters under my boat are met with memories of their all having been attempted before. The mental energy can be undermined.
The truth is earlier outlets have shrunk, there are fewer publics to please, and doing things just for “self” is not enough.
Still, this scripture challenges. Later or sooner, the time will run out. It’s saying: Don’t rest on past laurels, get going.
What vows did you make? If nothing else, work on them.
Make the daily list and do it.
Write out your obit and live up to it.
(That’ll put things in perspective.)
If this is a melancholy moment, so be it; that too is good for the soul.
There’s life ahead. It’s still a gift. And to be lived with all the might.
Amen?
Oh, and that’s me, below, with just four candles. Ha! Even then not quite sure about this birthday thing.
_______
* To clarify, I have two blogs, Blank Canvas focuses on our art lives, is more or less monthly, and goes to a wider list. Blank Slate, which you’re now reading, is to a more inner circle.
**Ecclesiastes 9:10. Obviously the Old Testament writers didn’t have the more complete view of the life to come, but the point is still made.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
12:50 pm
You’ve got a few on me, Hyatt, but you’re still an inspiration to many of us youngin’s. I’m back here at “sixty-eight, so I may be late,” and clearly feeling a change of seasons. Personal expression through art (music), more lovely nap times, and wanting more nature in my days… not bad things, really, maybe more normal than I think. Happy Birthday to you!
1:50 pm
Thank you Hyatt. Words to remember as I also can’t quite believe the number of birthdays I’ve had! (same as you!)
It’s been awhile…yes. I always look forward to opening your emails!
I’m spending much of my time in Maine…in my studio…learning to paint and draw every day!
Many good wishes, always, to you and Anne.
Elizabeth Hammond
2:20 pm
We already talked about your advancing age today…..sent you an e-card….Ed’s 85th was Friday, and it really did come fast!!! (You helped him celebrate the 80th five years ago in Newport Beach!) Seeing God’s faithfulness is probably the most beautiful gift we can receive……and you are a reminder of His great faithfulness, along with so many we can’t begin to count…….but we’re still counting, and rejoice that we can count you as one of His great faithfulness. Happy Birthday!
4:04 pm
HI Hyatt, Last year we chatted with your wife at Festival of Arts, and Pittmans have been personal friends for about 50 years. I’ve just finished my 68th book to go to press, and I’m speaking somewhere almost every Sunday. Why don’t I quit? Paul put it, “The gifts and the calling of God are without revocation!” As I’ve grown older (now 82) I spend more time mentoring younger men and responding to people who confuse wisdom with aging. And by the way, I think you and your wife would enjoy a book my wife and I did last year entitled, “Age is Just a Number.” Send me a mailing address and I’ll send you one with my compliments. Charles Stanley (age 85 or 86) says he won’t “quit” because it’s unscriptural. Your paintings are a ministry and encouragement to many of us. For many years your “Last Supper” was in my office, and when we downsized, I gave it to the pastor of Presbyterian Church of the Master who now has it in his office. Books Darlene and I have done have brought people at the point of suicide to faith in Christ, and helped, only God knows how many. Your paintings, like my books, reach people who aren’t sitting on the front row of a pew and bring beauty, hope, and encouragement. Hang in there! The best is yet to come.–Harold Sala / Guidelines International Keep on painting!
4:56 pm
I definitely see the man in the boy. Curious, eager, handsome, determined, certainly not afraid of the camera. Seems to me he has figured out to enjoy his birthday, though, and he is being just cooperative enough with the photographer to earn the cue that it is time to dig in! And I’m just sure he will share. Looks like coconut frosting, sometime in the 40s. What a privilege to know what has become of that boy and all the good he has done in the world, and will continue to do because he is who he is.
8:02 pm
Happy Birthday, Hyatt! You just keep getting better…Enjoy your day.
9:04 pm
Hi Hyatt,
In reading your article about your age, I couldn’t help but smile. I’m only three years behind you, but love each birthday! I say that it’s my birth-month so I can celebrate longer! The Lord has blessed me so much, I can’t help but focus on his eternity rather than my mortality. We are rich–so rich! I think of Psalm 92: 12-15, especially vs 13-14. We still bear fruit in our old age when planted in the house of the Lord, and what’s more, we will still bear fruit…And people will be blessed, Right Harold Sala?! (Loved what you wrote!)
Yay! We’re youngsters in our Heavenly father’s eyes. You better watch it, Hyatt, you’re only 76; Moses was 80 when his ministry began! You’ve been blessing people for many years, nevertheless, the Lord may lay some heavy responsibility on you when you reach 80 years young! You’re still the King’s Kid! lol
Your Loving friend,
Aida
Psalm 92: 12-15
12. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
4:17 am
Many thanks for this guidance from one at 73, facing same issues. As our body slowly wears out, more focus required to find tasks that we can complete.
6:55 am
Happy birthday, Hyatt. You,re just a little ahead of me. I am 75, won’t be 76 until December 26. I do consider you part of my inner circle too. About seventeen years ago, I was so wonderfully surprised when you gifted me and the ministry with a framed “Last Supper with Twelve Tribes”. Through the years it has been a focus of our ministry as we try to touch everyone of every background and life experience. About two years ago, God allowed me to have a little nudge when my home and office was totaled in a fire one Sunday as I was at church. Finding myself at 73 with little to burden me, I loaded it all into two suitcases and headed for the Philippines. It was not entirely spur of the moment; my wife of three years and I had been planning that we would soon be together; the fire just helped us to decide if she would move to USA or I would move to the Philippines. So greetings from the Philippines. Thank you so much for all you have done .
David C. Holdridge
8:07 am
Happy birthday Hyatt!!! You always have followed Jesus and your dreams. You are such an inspiration in every aspect: Your soul, mind spirit, talent, family, and the list goes on. Keep going Hyatt, your horizon is still far away.
8:34 am
You’ve probably heard me say this before: ‘The longer I live the bigger God’s grace gets’.
1:09 pm
I welcome a bit of melancholy as a pensive mood often expresses a depth of thoughtfulness. I read that as an emotion it ” engenders aesthetic experience”.
And so as an artist, I am sure you embrace all the emotions that arise in life and are expressed through your art. Aesthetic is from the Greek word ” perception” and I believe you have a developed art and likely a gift of just that–perceiving truth and discerning beauty.
Happy day of your birth.
6:22 pm
Hello Hyatt, I was moved by your recent blog and I must say I was so happy to see it “resurrected”.
Even at the tender age of almost 62, I think about retirement often.
I often wonder if retirement is a noun, or a verb, or just a “label “ we like to assign to ourselves and others.
I will never picture you as a “retiree” or “retired” or anything of the kind. I will always and forever describe you as a gifted artist, speaker, interpreter of God’s word, and someone who has incredible skill of saying what other people are usually thinking.I don’t think CS Lewis, or Picasso, or Freud, or any of those types ever considered themselves “retired”. In fact I don’t think they ever considered themselves anything other than being alive, gifted, and called. They probably believed, as do I, that the “retirement mentality” is something that “other people have” about “other people”.
They also didn’t give much attention to worldly labels.
Can you imagine meeting CS Lewis at a cocktail party and his name tag says, Hello, my name is RETIRED’?
I think the word “retired” is a name we give to people when we don’t really know who they are or what they do.
I know who you are, I know your name, and I know what you do, and I know you do it well. That’s who you will always will be. You’re not retired, or thinking about being retired…. You will always be thinking very intentionally and deliberately about being the best “Hyatt” you can be.
And your blog is part of that.
I am so thankful for the example you are to me.
Joni Mitchell once said “can you imagine someone saying to Vincent van Gogh: “Hey, paint a Starry Night again, man!”
Keep creating, and re-creating.
I probably used too many words, but you’re worth every one.
Scott
7:57 pm
OHHHH hi Hyatt and Anne too!!! Gosh Hyatt, 75!! Wow!! I thought we were getting so old!! Well, we all are, now aren’t we! OHHHH you are retired, enjoying all the art you and Anne do together! You should never quit!! No no!!! Keep going!!!! You do such lovely lovely work, that reaches people right into their spiritual Christ selves!!!! God’s gift to you! Keeping using your gifts! I know that is the right thing to do! Yes, like Charles Stanley.. Love him.. Loved your picture of you as a little boy!! So great looking at that little boy and knowing that you married your wonderful Anne, had 5 wonderful precious children and then all your wonderful grand children! Truly been a blessing for you and Anne! Lots of arrows in your quiver!! Love it!! Anyway, so much to be thankful for you in your lives! God speed! Love Lisa and Kevin Hoyt! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM US!!
8:03 am
Happy Birthday Hyatt
Recently I read something that referred to birthdays as trips around the sun… I really like that image. Very kinetic! Keep traveling, friend!
9:04 am
Dear Hyatt, I too am inspired by your “fineness,” gentleness, scripture-based-life-and-living-day-to-day person that you are, and an artist who paints from his heart and soul. Thank you for sharing your heart and soul with those of us who are fortunate to be able to benefit from your wisdom. With peace and joy and many blessings I send to you and your family….Suszanne
2:38 pm
LOVE hearing from you . Please continue on…always inspirational. You have a God given gift that needs to be shared. That 4 year old is cute!!! Love to Beautiful Anne. Miss you both.
9:48 am
Thanks for a new Blank Slate, Hyatt, with your musings about advancing age. I have read it three times and find it insightful and challenging. But then, that is just the way your writing is.
I am coming up on the big 90 next month so have been thinking a lot about life, not so much looking ahead as back at all the way the Lord has lead. I was wrapped up so much in the heat of doing that I did not take the time to see the Lord’s hand in it all. Too bad I didn’t. One of the blessings of old age is time to review life, the good and not so good, and then recognize what the Lord was doing. Easy to focus on the things I did and didn’t do that I wish I could do over and get depressed. But then I remember that the Lord knows we are dust and He accepts our poor efforts to advance his Kingdom here on earth and uses it all for His Glory. I’m just amazed and thankful he lead me in ways I would not have had the audacity to choose.
Thinking a lot about family, my Christian heritage as well as my kids, grandkids and now great grands which I have not met. A blessing. With Marilyn going on ahead, it makes heaven a little closer.
I am impressed with your friends who commented on your post. You have attracted many who are like you, insightful, creative, loving God and his people.
May God continue to bless you and Anne, and your ministry,
Wayne
8:58 am
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