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The air seemed cleaner, somehow brighter then. Everything appeared more vibrant in color and detail. I remember holding ladybugs, among many insects, between my thumb and forefinger inspecting their under side.
I was transfixed by the small wonder. The legs all moved as if trying to find traction on air. I’d turn them over and set them in the palm of my other hand and let them crawl around until they took to flight.
The things felt or expressed for the first time bring most people to the mountain peak of awe. Many of us spend the first part of our lives in wonder and amazement. For a good number of others, many spend the next part of their lives trying to conquer the things that once captured them.
This is the phase of life that limits are explored, where limits are learned. Some of us stay in this phase of our life longer than others. It’s a fine line between ambition and wisdom. Perseverance is one thing, but there is a point when that admirable trait of perseverance for certain things becomes ignorance.
We’ve all witnessed people in our lives try to hang onto a portion of their life that’s long past. I’ve been guilty of it myself, still am I suppose. I remember knocking on doors and when the owners opened the door, my buddy and me dryly greeted them with a, “trick or treat”…
More than a few of them countered with, “Aren’t you a little old to be trick or treating”? Echoing the sentiments of my older brothers… Maybe a costume would have helped…
I can’t recall how many ripped hamstrings I’ve endured trying to sprint with the kids I coached. They started ripping just inside 100 yards, then it was forty yards. After I got down to inside twenty yards I gave up with regret of a time obviously passed.
Enter: the last phase of life… Reality.
This is the time a person has to make a decision about what perspective to adopt in our next phase of life. Do we throw in the towel of wonder and awe of life? While a bit of regret I think is natural and acceptable, if it is the glasses we choose to see our world through for the next phase of our lives, it’s a sad life with little wisdom gained in the process of the last one.
It’s easy to be cynical; I think it’s also tempting to begin to live in the past. If each day is a gift and we believe God’s mercies begin new with each day, how can we regret losing what we were designed to lose in order to receive what new gifts God’s offering?
I’m still in awe and wonder of a beautiful sunrise and sunset. With each new season comes new amazement by the wonder of it. While I can’t see in detail what I once did, I can see things that the eyes of my youth couldn’t.
God has allowed those of us given the gift of time here on earth to see things that aren’t visible to the human eye. We can see the hand of God in all things on earth. The phase of wisdom is even more extraordinary than the first phase of life.
For the little more dull among us the middle phase is designed to wear us out. A person doesn’t have to try to chase the wind forever before they realize it’s impossible. It does serve to wear down the strong willed, to open the eyes in order to see the true gift of life.
As I stood on the doorstep of this next phase, I glanced down at the mat set before the threshold. I smiled as I read it…
“WELCOME TO WISDOM.”
Finally…
I was talking to my wife the other day after she made a comment about how amazed she is at times with how smart I am and how much I am still learning. I told her I wish I could have learned some of this way back when. But that is wisdom speaking. Hindsight that affords a clearer look. Good thoughts here floyd. Welcome to wisdom for sure.
Thanks Bill, it’s nice to be among the minds of the truly living! Not that I’m a veteran or anything, but I’m on my way. Praise God!
Great Post Floyd, we do grow wiser as time passes on. The wonder of a child as they inspect living creatures around them is a learning tool. Like a courious cat we investigate and sometimes come away injured. I like how you ended your post with Welcome to Wisdom.
Thanks Hazel, the interesting part of wisdom is we finally figure out that we don’t know everything and we begin to trust more and more in God. I think that is truly wisdom.
From the beginning of life to the very end of ones’ life “it” calls out for (demands) improvements. Each phase of ones’ life requires one to learn and evolve. If you’re one that is blessed by God with the mental and physical gifts to learn, you get to experiences and move from one phase of life to the next. Those that live in the past or are challenged to move forward may feel down deep that they didn’t use all of their God give abilities to the fullest. I truly believe that if you give it your all with no regrets you can look at the past with found memories and view the future simply as a shift in perspective. Each phase of life sets into motion a series of new challenges and opportunities. Good morning God … what’s on todays agenda? I’m ready! Bt
I LOVE THAT ATTITUDE! That is truly wisdom. No regrets, leave it all out there every time. I hear you and agree. Well, well said! Thanks BT.
Proverbs l:20 says that Wisdom cries out in the streets – in other words, in a public place. So, Wisdom wasn’t hiding. I simply haven’t always been smart enough to heed her call!
So you are saying that we exchange perseverance for ignorance in that we push so hard toward a goal that we miss out on living? I can honestly remember when days and nights all ran into one another until they became weeks, and then months. It was a time of survival when I had to work two jobs, homeschool 5 kids and bear the load of everything necessary to raising a family on my back. It seemed like there was no end in sight – stretching into years. BUT GOD….
I was thinking about “reliving the past”, and while there are some things I might have done differently based on experience gained, I find that am happy right where I am.
Some gifts I have stewarded well, while others I have neglected. I chose not to pine for those or wish things would have gone another way. When I find myself nostalgic, I temper my thoughts and realize that that was then, and this is now. At times, things were far from perfect even though I strove to serve God in the midst of problems. I didn’t always understand, but made adjustments as my eyes were opened.
Although I don’t know the full scope of my journey here, a good deal of it has already been consumed. My prayer is that, with what is left, I allow God to energize all my actions so that the second half is better than the first!
That sounds like a wonderful perspective… Based on rich wisdom. I was saying that sometimes when we push to hard to stay in a place that God has already ordained we leave, is when we miss out on true life and wisdom. I appreciate the life you’ve lived. I see more and more where all that wisdom came from!
Wisdom absolutely comes with experience. Just don’t forget that some of those experiences can happen at a young age. Through no fault of her own, my dear teen daughter earned a lot of wisdom this past summer, learning what friendship is and what it is not.
Blessings,
Voni
I hear you, we’ve had the same thing happen. It’s tough to learn about human nature as a kid. Heart breaking actually. Good point.
Floyd,
The entire post is laced with wisdom. In the time God has given us, we do learn. Often it is at the giving up of ourselves or some part of ourselves that allows God to fill us with His Word…wisdom. I like the way you organized the phases in life. Right on in so many ways. Thanks!
Thanks Effie, I can’t tell you how your kind words are always a lift to me exactly when I need it.
“Enter: the last phase of life… Reality.”
That’s depressing as all hell.
But it makes sense. I think. Or at least, that’s how I’ve felt. I think I need to find something to wonder about and be less cynical over. I think the cynicism comes from failures, trying too hard and beating your head against a brick wall of obstacles that shouldn’t really be there. So upsetting.
OK, my family thinks I’m crazy sitting here. As I read your second line, I started busting a gut out loud! Reality is there our whole lives, we just choose to not pay too much attention to it when we’re younger. You don’t strike me as that type. When we walk the paths that God chooses for us, instead of forging a new path through a thick unforgiving jungle, life is a whole lot easier.
“They” say with age comes wisdom…I much prefer this latter phase of life – wisdom.
I wish I had had the wisdom at an earlier age, to embrace wisdom; I’m sure I would have been spared a lot of heartache.
Beautiful post, Floyd.
Thanks Pat. I appreciate that God made us similar in many ways and uses our words in caring ways. It is the little things like your kind words that bring joy; a sure sign of wisdom I think…