Image by Johannes Plenio
Thought for the Week
“I shot through my twenties like a luminous thread through a dark needle, blazing toward my destination: Nowhere.” ~Carrie Fisher
A very old patient visited a doctor friend of mine. “Good to see you,” Dr. Tom said. “Yeah, well, better to be seen than viewed,” the old man replied. “Age isn’t for sissies,” as the expression goes.
And yet, as Gabriel García Márquez observes, “Age has no reality except in the physical world. The essence of a human being is resistant to the passage of time. Our inner lives are eternal, which is to say that our spirits remain as youthful and vigorous as when we were in full bloom.” “Age is not all decay,” George MacDonald adds, “it is the ripening, the swelling of the fresh life within, that withers and bursts the husk.”
Marilyn Monroe said, “Sometimes I think it would be easier to avoid old age, to die young, but then you’d never complete your life, would you? You’d never wholly know you.” (Insightful words, but sadly she never got to prove them true.) Aging is the key to “wholly knowing you.” Mitch Albom notes, “If you stayed at twenty-two, you’d always be as ignorant as you were at twenty-two. Aging is not just decay, it’s growth.”
But wisdom isn’t the automatic result of aging; bitterness and bile can erode it. Still, it can never be fully attained without aging. So, how does one age one’s way to wisdom? I would argue that one must move closer and closer to its Source.
The purpose of driving is to reach a destination, not merely to use up the gas in the tank. This is what Jesus meant when he spoke about “the broad road that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13-14). Most people on the broad road do not choose it, they simply end up on it. Why? Because they choose nothing. They drive until they run out of fuel and end up in that place Carrie Fisher called Nowhere. By contrast, those on “the narrow road that leads to life” choose it.
They live toward their destination.
Sylvia Townsend Warner, a brilliant but disenchanted 20th century social experimenter, concluded near the end of her life, “It is best as one grows older…to shed oneself downward like a tree, to be almost wholly earth before one dies.” I beg to differ. I would say it is best to shed oneself upward like a cloud, to be almost wholly spirit before one dies. Let the earth have the spent husk, and set “the fresh life within” free — to be claimed by the One it has been reaching toward its whole life.
As for me? I choose to drive steadfastly toward the Source of wisdom, toward the One who “wholly knows” me, and who alone can teach me…
To wholly know myself.
Beautiful
When one walks by the Spirit of God, one changes from within and shows love, joy, peace, and has a glow that draws others because of the One living inside. Some end their lives in health and pass to the next life. with trim[h not a whimper.
However you spin the metaphor, it’s the shedding that matters. Wisdom emerges from the cocoon of the self when we learn to let go.
🙏🙏
Very helpful article Mitch. Thanks 👍
My privilege, Cora.
Yes, yes, yes, Mitch.
Thank you, Anonymous.
Beautiful piece on seeking our sweet Lord. It brightened my Monday morning.
So glad to hear that, Bob.
I don’t know what you’re talking about. By 22 I knew everything.
oh wait…
😉
Have a great week!
;>) You too, AJ!
😃😃
Lovely post, Mitch, thank you!
My pleasure, Dana!
left off matthew 7:11 hide the word & not sin against thee, he gave his word charged upon thee, o was that in psalms 103:11?
Oh I love this Mitch. Especially today when I’m feeling every bit of the withering husk, and I’m not nearly old enough for it to shed completely. Harsh weather can wither the outer casings sooner than expected. My spirit is reaching toward to clouds!
<3
I totally relate Mitch. Very well said. The tires of Faith in that upward journey have more and more substance and grip.
#stillripening #aginggratefully
Well said.
Thank you, T.
My pleasure 😊
Beautiful insights Mitch. Thanks for taking the time to put these together.
My privilege, Pete.
Well, I still have my husk. 🙂
Much wisdom here!
😀
“We are the ones who walked around in fear. We were those addicted and afflicted. We were the ones in darkness. Now we see the great light.” gators grace notes.
Very good!
Thanks, Scott!
Wonderful post! Thanks for sharing.
My privilege, Peggy.
Great wisdom. Thanks, Mitch.
My pleasure, Rosaliene.
This is absolutely true Truth and wonderfully said. Relating completely and trying to relate “wholly”, if you know what I mean. So true for my own journey right now at this old age. Thank you.
I do know what you mean, Jane, and so glad it spoke to you.
AMEN x 100! May something or someone bless you today as much as this post blessed me. You really nailed it, my friend.
Thank you, dear friend.
Absolutely beautiful post, Mitch! I am with you 100%… Without The Source, I have no wisdom at all…and I desire to move upward as well. Though much like Carrie Fisher in my teens & early 20’s, when I was at the end of my aimless solutions, HE was there waiting for me to accept HIS perfect way. It’s been a journey and now, many years later, I pray I never stop learning His Wisdom and growing closer to His LIkeness… May the journey continue until that day when I see Him face-to-face! 🙏🏻
Thank you, Mitch, this was thought provoking and RICH!!! 🙌🏻 You have a tendency to do that! 😅
So glad we share this journey, dear Dori.
Thank you, Mitch…and what a deep pleasure it is for me to share your journey as well. We didn’t know each other well back in the 60’s (which probably isn’t a bad thing! LOL), but it’s a true joy to glean from what The Source has worked in you and how HE is using your gift for writing and your life to pour into others… very fruitful, to say the least! 🙂
Likewise, my friend.
These are very profound thoughts. I especially like the idea of driving to reach a destination, not just to use up all your fuel. In fact, in addition to diving aimlessly or in circles, you can even empty your entire tank just by staying put and letting your engine idle.
Sadly true, Abe.
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