by Nancy Linenkugel
Contributor
As I was opening a can of vegetables the other day, I noticed information stenciled on the lid. Along with several numbers was the phrase, “Best by 2017.” We’re in mid-2015, so that means the can contents are still good 2.5 years from now.
What if people also had a “best by” tag? Over an entire lifetime, what if the “best by” time period occurred at age 50 but the person lived to be 83? Knowing that, would you be tempted to discard the individual once that “best by” time had been passed?
In some ways, our society acts like this is the case. Persons with silver hair are seen as less productive, less worthy, less beautiful and less valuable. Some adult children can’t be bothered with aging parents but find alternatives for their care, such as nursing homes.
Instead, what if the “best by” label isn’t applied until the person’s death? That would mean that the individual lived a purposeful and worthy life right up to the end of his/her earthly existence. I think this is more in keeping with what God has in mind for us who seek to live out the special plan ordained for our lives of service. Even someone with a physical or mental handicap is living that plan and being an example to the rest of us if we only pay attention.
Perhaps our “best by” time is really a moving metric: I get better each day. If you think an idea was good today, just wait until tomorrow. You haven’t seen anything yet.
[Sr. Nancy Linenkugel is a Sylvania Franciscan sister and chair of the department of Health Services Administration at Xavier University, Cincinnati Ohio.]