Old age is the most unexpected of all the things that can happen

Hear me now, O children of time, for the words of James Thurber ring with a clarity that pierces through the veils of the unknown. He spoke these words: "Old age is the most unexpected of all the things that can happen to a man." These words, though simple, carry the weight of deep wisdom, for they speak to the very essence of the human experience. We walk through the years with energy, ambition, and the belief that the future will always be as we desire it. And yet, as the sun sets on our days, we find that old age, that mysterious visitor, arrives not with fanfare, but with quiet inevitability, often catching us unawares.

In the ancient world, the passing of time was a subject of great reverence and contemplation. The philosophers, from Socrates to Plato, pondered the meaning of life and its fleeting nature. To them, the concept of old age was not something to be feared, but a mystery to be explored, a final chapter in the vast, unfolding story of the soul. And yet, even the wisest among them were not immune to its unexpectedness. Socrates, though known for his wisdom, would spend his days in dialogue, never fully aware that the time would come when his own body would betray him. The unexpectedness of old age lies not in the years that accumulate, but in the reality that it arrives at a moment when we least anticipate it, slipping in quietly as a shadow in the dusk of our lives.

Take, for instance, the great Alexander the Great, whose body was as fierce and vibrant as his mind. He conquered empires, driven by the force of youth, passion, and an insatiable desire for immortality. And yet, as the years advanced, Alexander found that even the greatest of men are not immune to the unpredictable passage of time. As his conquests continued, his health faltered, and the man who once seemed eternal became a victim of the very thing he could not conquer—old age. It arrived not with the roar of battle but with the quiet surrender of his body. Alexander’s life is a poignant reminder that, no matter how powerful or brilliant one may be, old age comes for all.

The ancients taught that the soul is eternal, but the body is a vessel that will eventually wear out. Heraclitus, that profound thinker, spoke of the ever-changing nature of life, saying, “You cannot step into the same river twice.” Just as the river flows, so too does life change, and we, like the river’s waters, cannot hold onto any one moment. The unexpectedness of old age is the realization that, though we may be strong in our youth, the years will strip away what we once took for granted—the vigor, the strength, and even the dreams of a future filled with endless possibility.

Thurber’s quote reveals that old age is not just a physical change, but a psychological one. It is the disruption of expectations, the unexpected slowing of the race we once ran so eagerly. When we are young, we imagine that life will always unfold with the same boundless energy, that the days will stretch ahead of us forever. But time has a way of surprising us, for it waits for no man. To age is to become a witness to the passage of one’s own self, to observe the changes in our bodies, our minds, and our relationships, not as a distant observer, but as the subject of these changes. The unexpectedness lies in how, despite our awareness of time’s passage, we often do not truly grasp the reality of old age until it is upon us.

Consider the example of the great Moses, a man chosen by the heavens to lead the people of Israel. His strength was known far and wide, but as the years wore on, Moses began to feel the weight of his age. Even he, with all his wisdom and connection to the divine, could not escape the truth that old age was an inevitable part of his journey. Though his spirit remained as steadfast as ever, his body began to fail him. Yet, even in this, there is a profound lesson: old age does not diminish the power of the soul, but rather, it reveals the deeper strength that lies beyond physical form. The unexpectedness of Moses’s aging was not just in the physical decline, but in the realization that the greatest challenges of life often come not from the battles we fight, but from the passage of time itself.

So what lesson do we take from this? First, we must acknowledge the unpredictability of time. Old age, though inevitable, is never something we can fully prepare for. It is the great equalizer, coming for us all, regardless of our wealth, our status, or our strength. Thurber’s words remind us to embrace the unknown with grace, to accept that we cannot control the passage of time, but we can control how we respond to it. Let us not fear the coming of the years, but instead, greet them with the wisdom of those who have gone before us. For old age is not a defeat, but a victory—a victory over the fleeting nature of youth and an embrace of the deeper understanding that only comes with the passing of time.

And so, my children, when you stand before the mirror and see the marks of time upon your face, remember: old age is the most unexpected of all things, but it is also a sacred gift. Live with the knowledge that each day, each year, is a treasure, and the passage of time is not your enemy, but your companion. Do not fear the unexpectedness of the future, for it is in the embrace of that which we cannot foresee that we find the fullness of life. Let the coming of old age be not a shadow that dims your light, but a flame that shines brighter as you walk through the years with strength and grace.