Know Jack #472 Second Childhood

Growing old is a blessing, a somewhat mixed blessing, but a blessing, nonetheless. It may sound strange but growing old seems to happen overnight. A decade here and there and suddenly, you’re old. I think it works that way because life is best lived as a child.

In nursing school, we studied what psychologists said were the life tasks associated with different age groups. One of those given for old folks was dealing with approaching death. Mature reasoning about death is not the best way to prepare. There is no way to reason about the unknown and when physical life ends, the unknown is all that remains.

Jesus offered a different perspective. “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” Childlikeness is the best preparation for death. Therefore, old age is a time for regaining a child’s perspective. A note here. Childlikeness and childishness are not the same thing and those two can clash in our later years.

What does it mean to be like a child? It’s easier to imagine than Lennon’s proposed world. A child is dependent on another, trusting them to supply all the necessities of life, in other words carefree. A child believes the voice of authority. They will test the bounds and trustworthiness of that authority, but when they find these steadfast, they obey. A child shown love, learns to love and share from the heart. A child does not fear the truth and accepts correction.

A child imagines and creates. Picasso said he spent a great deal of his life learning to paint like a child again. Play is a great mode of expression. Active old folks play. When they cannot exercise the body, they exercise the mind as a child will do.

If you believe the Bible that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, the things God has prepared for those who love Him, then you know the picture painted in Revelation is not the whole picture. God has a kingdom that spans the universe(s) and is filled with carefree children. It’s called heaven and it’s easy to see the reason for that.

Life on earth is cursed with work. Work is a punishment for choosing not to rely on God’s provision. You cannot truly know heaven without it as those who shun work will one day learn. In fact, all that is natural in this world cursed by sin is meant to teach adults the blessing of being a child again.

Now, it's time for a nap.