“AGE
IS A VERY HIGH PRICE TO PAY FOR MATURITY!”
By
Patti Iverson
Says Tom Stoppard.
Some folks don’t wanna pay the price, nor gain the
maturity. Seems to me you’re gonna pay that price
anyway, unless you die. Now, that’s not a great alternative. I can’t even be
middle aged anymore, unless folks live to 120. Nooo,
I’ve gotta be “Early Mature.” There is no “Late
middle age.” Ron Tocknell
Just because one is old doesn’t mean you are
mature. Sags ‘n bags and dementias ‘n discomforts so common to elders don’t qualify
one with wisdom. That’s a gift from God and a milestone in maturity. James 5
says “Ask God if you lack wisdom.” That can be done by a mature, “old soul,”
five year old! Some 80-ish adults still blather, “If maturity is a gift, can I
exchange it?” Or, “I may be old but I refuse to grow up.” The “Forever Young”
mentality. Oh gag me… Better a mature, dignified elder any day over a silly
senior trying to be hip ‘n cool. They can still be fun and lively while mature
and Godly.
We hopefully learn life lessons
as we mature: “No matter how much I
care, some folks are still jerks.” “One good turn gets most of the blanket.”
“Don’t compare yourself to others as most are more goofed up than you.” “Not to
sweat the petty things and not to pet the sweaty things”… I don’t really think
these are the lessons that make one mature in God’s eyes! What was once so serious to us may become
absurd with maturity. Perhaps a comment would’ve made you cry, yet in maturity
you’d toss your head back and laugh aloud! Albert Einstein said, “I live in
that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of
maturity.” Yes, we change.
Bitter disappointments mellow in maturity if you
are the sort who doesn’t consider yourself mature just because you’ve had lots
of birthdays. That just makes you old! One should grow to distinguish the
permanent from the passing, and act accordingly. Not hang on to “stuff” in life
that doesn’t move you forward, be it tangible, or the inner emotions of a
sorrowful, grudging heart. Maturity knows my trust of HIM is independent of
my understanding of this life. Read that last line again. If we understand
that, then we can say along with Jesus, “Not my will, but HIS will be done.” Luke 22:42. Nobody said being mature is
always easy! “The mark of an immature
man is he wants to die nobly for a cause, while a mature man wants to live
humbly for one.” W.
Stekel
Which are we?
Martha Graham, the great dancer said, “Age is
the acceptance of a term of years. But maturity is the glory of years.”
Ahhhh!
Consider everyday as gaining glory and maturity for Jesus. It’s always all
about Jesus! Yup! How good it is, and the high price is sooo
worth it…
Patti Iverson writes from Medford, Oregon. randpi2@charter.net