Maturity is the Missing Piece
We can no longer in good conscience, automatically call our youth – THE HOPE OF THE FUTURE. They very well may be a catalyst for hope, but first, they will need to work hard on the exacting disciplines of growing up.
The mature must be mature. They must be excellent guides and mentors. They must walk the walk. Hope is too difficult, too massive a task to achieve, unless, we are all working as ONE on our maturation.
This book, as I believe you now know, has a vision -- of mature adults truly leading our youth to become mature adults. This book hopes to have offered insight and input, and even illumination, on the real meaning of maturation. Maturity is certainly no longer measured by years. Maturity is a matter of depth, an outrageous commitment to compassion, a willingness to serve and sacrifice and even suffer, and the wisdom to pay attention and notice the ways we are being called to create good lives on this good earth.
Maturity expects a great deal of us. We must know how to grieve, and to navigate the wild ride of loss. We must nurture our souls, and be clear on our ultimate concerns, as well as heeding the call to dream, risk, create, and do so with courage. Maturity also expects modesty, humility, and a real understanding of what it means to be human, a global citizen, and a child of God -- as we understand God.
Maturation is bloated by mercy, and is built upon a full firm foundation of forgiveness. This means we must be a people of empathy, sensitivity, insight, kindness, care, concern, and committed to being a good neighbor. Maturity celebrates diversity, justice, equality, and does so for everyone, everywhere, and for all time.
Maturity is not obsessed by the extraordinary, nor does it worship celebrity. Maturity seeks the opportunity for a simple but good life, spent with family and friends and in community, but most of all, willing to enjoy the myriad ways humanity will choose to find its way back home.
Home is our earth. This planet. The here and now. We who choose to mature, are passionate about being human, sharing these resources and gifts, and working together to live in profound peace. This is not impossible, as it happening every day, and in many places, at numerous times, and often involving those we might least expect to do so or be so.
Mature folks enjoy being adults. They do not see adulthood as an endurance test nobody passed. They refuse to keep climbing up a ladder which goes nowhere important, and will ultimately lead to a major fall. No, the mature are smart, wise, aware, awake, and they pay attention. They spot the joy. They witness that which yields excellence. They follow their longings and yearnings and hearts. They know a good life has little to do with stuff or possessions or power or popularity.
For the mature, greatness will always be a matter of love, as love is the living of hope, it is the walk of faith, and it is always a road less traveled. If we admit it, and let ourselves, we know where and why we need to go home. We know home is where we are authentic, real, and we belong and matter, and it is there we will build up our capacity and strength to care with conviction about saving this planet.
Maturity is at the core of all that is missing in our culture, and in the raising up of a child. We must raise our kids up to walk on higher ground, where they can experience the respect and trust and kindness needed to enjoy each of their days.
The mature will not squander their fortune. They will not waste time on trivial pursuits. They will not compete for popularity points, a bigger bank account, or a mind bloated with thoughts of Self. The mature will focus on WE the people, the planet, the sacred earth, the ground of our being, and the dream our God, as we each understand that concept, has for our lives individually and together.
We can do this. We can raise up mature adults, who enjoy Life in all of its simplicity and beauty and grandeur, and do so while being humble humans, with great senses of humor, a powerful hope for tomorrow, and a will to start the day, and end the day, with projects motivated by love, mercy, justice, and Grace.
This isn’t rocket science. This is creating a life worth the living, making a difference, knowing our significance, and claiming our insignificance, as we are those magnificent creatures who get up each day, knowing we will someday die, but walking with head held high to carve out our dreams on Life’s raw hide.
We have gotten down to growing up, and now, all things are truly looking up. Maturity was all it took. Maturity is Life’s whole goal and journey and fortune.
Who knew? We did! We do! We must live what our heart knows to be true, and go where our soul tells us we will find the joy and the way home.
We can no longer in good conscience, automatically call our youth – THE HOPE OF THE FUTURE. They very well may be a catalyst for hope, but first, they will need to work hard on the exacting disciplines of growing up.
The mature must be mature. They must be excellent guides and mentors. They must walk the walk. Hope is too difficult, too massive a task to achieve, unless, we are all working as ONE on our maturation.
This book, as I believe you now know, has a vision -- of mature adults truly leading our youth to become mature adults. This book hopes to have offered insight and input, and even illumination, on the real meaning of maturation. Maturity is certainly no longer measured by years. Maturity is a matter of depth, an outrageous commitment to compassion, a willingness to serve and sacrifice and even suffer, and the wisdom to pay attention and notice the ways we are being called to create good lives on this good earth.
Maturity expects a great deal of us. We must know how to grieve, and to navigate the wild ride of loss. We must nurture our souls, and be clear on our ultimate concerns, as well as heeding the call to dream, risk, create, and do so with courage. Maturity also expects modesty, humility, and a real understanding of what it means to be human, a global citizen, and a child of God -- as we understand God.
Maturation is bloated by mercy, and is built upon a full firm foundation of forgiveness. This means we must be a people of empathy, sensitivity, insight, kindness, care, concern, and committed to being a good neighbor. Maturity celebrates diversity, justice, equality, and does so for everyone, everywhere, and for all time.
Maturity is not obsessed by the extraordinary, nor does it worship celebrity. Maturity seeks the opportunity for a simple but good life, spent with family and friends and in community, but most of all, willing to enjoy the myriad ways humanity will choose to find its way back home.
Home is our earth. This planet. The here and now. We who choose to mature, are passionate about being human, sharing these resources and gifts, and working together to live in profound peace. This is not impossible, as it happening every day, and in many places, at numerous times, and often involving those we might least expect to do so or be so.
Mature folks enjoy being adults. They do not see adulthood as an endurance test nobody passed. They refuse to keep climbing up a ladder which goes nowhere important, and will ultimately lead to a major fall. No, the mature are smart, wise, aware, awake, and they pay attention. They spot the joy. They witness that which yields excellence. They follow their longings and yearnings and hearts. They know a good life has little to do with stuff or possessions or power or popularity.
For the mature, greatness will always be a matter of love, as love is the living of hope, it is the walk of faith, and it is always a road less traveled. If we admit it, and let ourselves, we know where and why we need to go home. We know home is where we are authentic, real, and we belong and matter, and it is there we will build up our capacity and strength to care with conviction about saving this planet.
Maturity is at the core of all that is missing in our culture, and in the raising up of a child. We must raise our kids up to walk on higher ground, where they can experience the respect and trust and kindness needed to enjoy each of their days.
The mature will not squander their fortune. They will not waste time on trivial pursuits. They will not compete for popularity points, a bigger bank account, or a mind bloated with thoughts of Self. The mature will focus on WE the people, the planet, the sacred earth, the ground of our being, and the dream our God, as we each understand that concept, has for our lives individually and together.
We can do this. We can raise up mature adults, who enjoy Life in all of its simplicity and beauty and grandeur, and do so while being humble humans, with great senses of humor, a powerful hope for tomorrow, and a will to start the day, and end the day, with projects motivated by love, mercy, justice, and Grace.
This isn’t rocket science. This is creating a life worth the living, making a difference, knowing our significance, and claiming our insignificance, as we are those magnificent creatures who get up each day, knowing we will someday die, but walking with head held high to carve out our dreams on Life’s raw hide.
We have gotten down to growing up, and now, all things are truly looking up. Maturity was all it took. Maturity is Life’s whole goal and journey and fortune.
Who knew? We did! We do! We must live what our heart knows to be true, and go where our soul tells us we will find the joy and the way home.