Behind Me

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. (1 Corinthians 13:11, NIV 1984).

My Musings – “When I was a kid, bedtime was nine p.m. I couldn’t wait to be a grownup so I could go to bed any time I wanted. Turns out that’s nine p.m.” (as read on the internet). Also, had to be back home by the time the street lights came on. Now it may not be safe to be out after dark.

We don’t talk a lot about the in between years, as we transition from being a child to becoming an adult. For some, it becomes a time of wandering in the wilderness. They want to put the values, beliefs and worldview of their parents behind them and make some of their own. But often what happens is the values, beliefs and worldviews they settle on (at least for a season) are not really their own. They have merely been influenced by someone other than their parents.

They couldn’t wait to get out on their own so they could embrace whatever values, beliefs and worldviews they wanted. After a season of this wandering, many become disillusioned and reevaluate. The lights come on and they return “home.” Turns out that the “nine p.m.” values, beliefs and worldview of their parents were right all along. No longer because their parents say so, but because they now know so.

My Advice – Still out wandering around looking for something to believe? Perhaps it’s time to come back home. Maybe, as far as your values, beliefs and worldview are concerned, you’ve always been homeless. You can still come in from the dark. The street lights are on.