«YOUR OLD MEN WILL DREAM DREAMS»
” I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions”
(Joel 2:28, NIV).
IN 1905, Rubén Dario, the famous poet from Nicaragua, in his poem «Song of Autumn in Springtime,” declaimed five times the famous refrain:*
“Youth, divine treasure,
you’re gone never to return!
When I want to cry, I don’t cry.
And sometimes I cry without wanting to.”
According to a resolution approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1985, youth includes those who are between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four. Does this mean that there is no longer a divine treasure for us, given that the readers of this devotional are no longer in that age group* Is there nothing for us to look forward to, but endless tears and nostalgia for days gone by?
In July 2021, the cover of New Scientist announced the title of its main article: «Your Seven Ages.” According to its author, David Robson, humans don’t have only one golden age, but many.“ Why? Because each stage introduces new strengths that distinguish it and make it better than the previous one. For example, teenagers and youth in their twenties are characterized by taking risks, being quick, and being happy. Those in their thirties have great physical resistance; it’s the best time to run marathons. In turn, those of us in our forties have another great treasure: we start paying attention to everything. And those in the autumn of their fifties and sixties tend to have crystal-clear intelligence …
In other words, every stage of our life entails a «divine treasure.» So if you feel discouraged because you’re no longer between the ages of 15 and 24, you would do well to remember that Moses began his training at 40, became a pastor at 80, and ended his work at the age of 120. In fact, if we want to find valuable jewels throughout our lives, let us ask God to teach us “to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
This promise can be fulfilled in us:»I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your old men [those over twenty-four] will dream dreams“ (Joel 2:28, NIV). So chin up! There are more divine dreams to come, some of which may come through you.
’Rubén Dario, Poesia [Poetry] (Managua: Editorial Hispamer, 2011), pp. 407—409. ’“ David Robson, “The Seven ages of You,» New Scientist (July 3, 2021), pp. 34—39.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Angelica Cuate