As people advance in age, it is not unlikely that they become apprehensive on a number of issues. They may worry about dwindling vigour and start to rue the days of youth. What such people often forget is that whatever is lost in terms of agility is being compensated for by wisdom accumulated over the years. They have gathered experience which has produced maturity and a more balanced view of life. When an elderly woman was responding to a question whether life is less meaningful at old age, she said a lot of insightful things, including the fact that she is much slower to judge. The implication of that is that she gets along well with most people now than when she was much younger. Again, she said she hardly says “yes” when her inner sense of knowing is screaming, “no”! There is so much going for someone who has not just added years to his or her life, but has equally added life to years by becoming mature.
” It is important to say that it is maturing individual members of the Church that leads to overall maturity of that Church. A church is no more mature than the aggregate maturity displayed by its members. “
In our previous meditation, we learned that we don’t talk of a perfect church; we can only talk about growing or maturing church. It is important to say that it is maturing individual members of the Church that leads to overall maturity of that Church. A church is no more mature than the aggregate maturity displayed by its members. Some of the traits we see in physically maturing people are also discernible in spiritually maturing individuals. We noted earlier the testimony of the elderly woman who said she became less judgmental with age. That much is applicable to spiritual maturity as well. A spiritually maturing person is less judgmental and more accommodating. He or she has imbibed the admonition of scripture to bear with all men and be forgiving. Also, a maturing person in the Lord is circumspective in their choices. Their intuition has become keener and they make choices that are only in consonance with God’s will.
