Nouwen refers to old people as “prophets”. Without speaking, those of us who have obvious signs of aging remind fellow travelers to heed the “process we all share”. I believe that is why ageism exists because just as prophets of old were put into wells to hide or silence them from fore telling the future, “youngsters” don’t want this reminder. I search myself to confirm this was the way I viewed the process when I was younger. I don’t think I consciously thought about it. I suspect I looked “through” older people without really looking at them. That is why I truly believe that ageism is an unconscious attempt to deny and delay the process. Looking ahead into the unknown can be a scary prospect. Let’s explore it further.
