By the Rev. Thomas M. Boles, PHD, DMin. D.D.

How many times have we said, or heard others say, “Manana. I’ll do it tomorrow.” Sometimes people put off doing today what they know or want to do because they don’t think they know enough or can perform well enough. The fact is, there is no “magic age” at which excellence emerges or quality surfaces.

Thomas Jefferson was 33 when he drafted the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin was 26 when he wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac. Charles Dickens was 24 when he began his Pickwick Papers and 25 when he wrote Oliver Twist. Isaac Newton was 24 when he formulated the law of gravitation.

A second danger is to think that creativity and invention belong to the young. This is equally untrue! Emmanuel Kant wrote his finest philosophical works at age 74. Verdi at 80 produced Falstaff and at 85, Ave Maria. Goethe was 80 when he completed Faust. Tennyson was 80 when he wrote Crossing the Bar and Michelangelo completed his greatest work at 87. At 90, Justice Holmes was still writing brilliant Supreme Court opinions. And yes, I started seminary at the ripe old age of 68.

Seize the day! Redeem the “now” moments of your life. The moment you wait for may never arrive. The moment once past will never return.

Time is more valuable than money

because time is irreplaceable.

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5: 16