Childish Ways
Hey guys! Here is another great submission I received by Travis . Enjoy!
If you’ve ever been to a wedding, chances are you’re familiar with 1 Corinthians 13. You know, the one that goes, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud,” and all that good stuff. Some weddings end with “Love never fails,” but others recite the entire chapter, including verse 11: “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.”
I don’t mean to start a sermon or anything like that. But I’ve been thinking a lot about that eleventh verse lately.
To me, your twenties are when you make that transition from the comfort of childhood to the uncertainty of adulthood. And if you’re like me, that transition can seem pretty scary. This might sound surprising, judging by how I voted this past November, but the truth is I’m afraid of change. It’s one thing to talk about change; it’s another thing to actually do something about it. Change often requires you to leave your comfort zone, and explore other possibilities. I, on the other hand, love my comfort zone. Why should I risk my personal comfort on something new? Sticking with the familiar is much easier than taking a chance.
But I’m learning now that when I stick with the familiar, nothing gets done.
>Let me give you a perfect example. I’ve been engaged to a wonderful woman for almost two years now. After going over our combined income the other day, I realized that we’re really in a financial pickle. In order for us to find a good place to live, have plenty of food, and pay all our bills, I’ll have to find a second job. I’ve actually known this for a while, but I never wanted to admit it. For a while I was pretty defensive whenever the subject came up. I would come up with all sorts of excuses: I’m too busy to work part-time, no one is hiring, my freelance writing will take care of everything, etc. The truth is I just didn’t want to leave my comfort zone. I wanted to do things my way.
Then I realized that if I want my marriage to work, I couldn’t always please myself. I need to do what’s best for the both of us. I can’t just say I love her; I have to show it.
So that’s where I am right now, slowly but surely putting away those childish ways. It can be scary, but nothing ever turns out as scary as I imagine. It’s been said, “Knock and the door will open.” For a while I’ve been afraid to knock, not knowing what’s behind the door. But now I’m slowly approaching that door, knocking, and anticipating whatever’s on the other side.
February 12th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
That’s always been one of my favourite Bible verses. I would think (not quite to the point of popping the question yet) that when you can realize that you cannot put yourself first while saying you love her and work towards that you are entirely ready to be married.
Good luck Sir.
February 12th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Great post. I love that verse too and I’m slowly discovering what it all means too.
February 12th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
A very grounded, sane and inspiring post, and it really strikes a chord with me because I have been having similar thoughts lately about taking on responsibility for my life in general…
So, courage and good luck to you with leaving your comfort zone, I’m pretty sure that now that you have decided to, you’ll be widening it more and more until it encompasses quite a bit more than before, by which time you’ll be ready to take on even greater things.
If your feet grow, it’s time for bigger shoes.
February 16th, 2009 at 2:16 am
I think sometimes being forced to make a change is the best thing for us, as we discover things we never would have if we’d just kept on the same path. That is why I’m happy I grew up in a small town– to get a good job and an education, I had to leave. I learned a lot by leaving.