Because of his age and the fact, he insisted on living alone after his wife had died, Abram Jackson worried his family. But he wasn't worried, and he always said if they couldn't quit worrying they could always move in with him and he would take care of them. Instead, they had all moved off world, up among the lights in the sky that he loved so much to view through his small telescope. And he was proud they had moved. His great-nephew had tried to get him to move too, but a hundred and six years is a long time to spend in one place, then pull up and start over. So, he stayed put and wrote a lot.
Nowadays he mostly worked on his tract which he called, “The Failure of the Human Will”. It was Abram's argument against the lack of nerve he perceived in those around him, the great “via inertiae” he called it. Despite the increased life span modern medicine could deliver, people seemed to dream less, attempt less, and accomplish less than their ancestors many times removed.
Abram thought it a failure of the spirit, a collective disease of civilization manifested and progressing into its last stage, chronic, when even to think and to plan became more audacious than they could possibly bring themselves to consider. Abram excused himself from this lack of incessant striving because of his age, but he was not as understanding when it came to younger people. They only seemed to care about the latest distraction, and not at all about their futures.
So, Abram wrote and did what he could when asked, visiting people, talking to people and in general trying to wake people to their responsibilities for society's future. Most often he did this with a short letter of encouragement or less often a short nagment, Abram's word for holding people accountable. One of which he owed to his lawyer friend Randall whom he had not heard from since their visit.
Once dinner, a small salad and half sandwich, was behind him he sat down to write a brief note to Randall. In the letter, he pointed out that enough time had passed for Randall to make his decision, and Abram would appreciate a reply so that he could pass it on to other interested parties. He asked if Randall had received the formal note and if so, had it applied the appropriate nag to his thinking. After some brief personal remarks about family Abram closed by reminding Randall that it was the future to which they owed their best efforts. A future where people that strive for something better would be rewarded for their hard work. Those that built would reap the rewards and not have it taken away by those that plunder. Where justice would be victorious, either through man's efforts or if not by man, through the Creator's design.
Abram often thought about his Creator. He talked with Him most days, he read His book, he looked for His manifestation in his life. At times he felt a connection with more than was seen by the eye, and he would smile. He did so that night as he fell asleep, thankful for another day. His last day on Earth as it would turn out.
No comments:
Post a Comment