When to give up?

We have heard much about the entertainer Bruce Forsyth in the last few days after his death.  He had indeed become very much a part of the world of entertainment.

I have to admit to watching some of his output with its slick yet seeming off the cuff presentation skills. As a minister I know that the skill of looking as everything is off the cuff takes a great deal of preparation and for this I admired him. I also admired the William Barclay preacher and professor for the exact same skill.  His lecture notes were marked where he would walk away from the podium and a further mark where he would return. That takes practice and work.

Recently I had given up on watching Bruce on TV. he was churning out the same material he had done for years, good on him , but I just felt the one skill he had not learned was when to give up. 

There comes a time for all of us when it is time to move on and think of something else to fill the days between rising and sleeping.  I hope I have enough friends who will be willing to tell me when to give up on writing this every day. 

I heard an interview the other day of an elderly lady who had just got married for the fourth time. She was now 84 years of age. Something else Bruce never tired of, getting married. 

The elderly lady was interviewed on Radio 4 and it was an interesting interview to say the least.

The interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be marrying again at 84, and then about her new husband's occupation.

"He's a funeral director," she answered.

"Interesting," the newsman thought.

He then asked her if she wouldn't mind telling him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living.

She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years. After a short time, a smile came to her face and she explained that she first married a banker when she was in her early 20's, then a circus ringmaster when in her 40's, later on a preacher when in her 60's, and now, in her 80's, a funeral director.

The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked why she had married four men with such diverse careers.

"Easy, son," she smiled. "I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go!"

The show must go on. have a wonderful day.