I'd like to tell Allegra that growing up is wonderful! I loved becoming independent. It brought responsibility, but it also brought choices. I was free to choose how I would live. Over time I have developed friendships with people who inspire me. I am not limited to who is in my class - the sky is the limit! I am a straight-laced, disciplined person, but I laugh and play and do what I love. Maybe the people who tell you highschool is the time of your life didn't really grow up. Maybe they just got older. I can't imagine what it is, but I find adulthood the time of my life. I hope you will, too!
Jan | Homepage | 09.17.05 - 10:46 am | #

To an extent, I can understand Allegra. I think most of us would love the opportunity to shirk responsibility. I mean, we know that we must take it on and we look forward to certain aspects of it, but there is always a part of us that just wants to avoid it.

The best way to look at it, I suppose, is to see coming to this time of full responsibility as making our opportunity to serve God even greater.
David Ketter | Homepage | 09.17.05 - 12:59 pm | #

You're right, David. All of us, as fallen human beings, have a tendency to laziness. It is a fight to prepare, especially when our culture does not encourage us to do so... But as Christians, I believe this fight is our calling.

We will never regret developing responsibility. We will regret failing to.
Alex Jordan Harris | Homepage | 09.17.05 - 1:07 pm | #

Very true...never thought about the regrets part... :)
David Ketter | Homepage | 09.17.05 - 4:24 pm | #

Since I play sports, I am always practicing for them. When it comes time for my first game I am super excited, but at the same time incredibly nervous. This is how I veiw growing up. We practice and go through the same routines for months and months. When it comes to that big game there won't be any more routines. It is the result of those routines that equal our game. The routines are our habits and the game is adulthood. I know that growing up doesn't come as suddenly as a single game, but its just an example. I think teen's are afraid to grow up because they know adulthood is like a big game. They know whats coming, but they are not adequetly prepared. Now some are prepared for what growing into an adult will throw you...they have practiced...and are ready to play!

Great post Alex!
God bless!
Lauren
Lauren Hammerstrom | 09.17.05 - 4:54 pm | #

I like the sports analogy, Lauren, and the time is swiftly coming when many of us will be playing for keeps. That is both an encouraging thought, and a sobering one to me. I can definitely understand your fear, Allegra. It does seem like there are so many adults who have "lost." But, if we are prepared to play well, instead of becoming a dread, the game just becomes all the more fascinating, challenging and rewarding.

The other thought I had as I was reading this post was that many fears about growing up seem to come from our view of adults. We are surrounded by Adultescents - and no one wants to grow up to be that. So we react by trying to stay a kid forever...which perpetuates the problem. I think there is a great need to see positive role-models among the adults we see. Some times they are very hard to find...But history is full of them. I always thought the "who is your hero" question was cliché. But I'm starting to wonder. We all need a hero - some one to imitate. And the best hero's are the ones who truly grew up.
Chloe | Homepage | 09.17.05 - 5:45 pm | #

WHAT ABOUT THE INEVITABLE THAT PEOPLE WILL SMOKE DRUGS, RAPE SLUTS, AND KILL PEOPLE. LETS PURSUE THAT INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT SOME 3RD WORLD COUNTRY THAT NO1 CARES ABOUT
REALIST CHRISTIAN | 01.06.08 - 2:17 pm | #

Growing up is wonderful. Rising up as a leader, taking on responsibilities to change the world, and maturing fully into the role that God created for you brings more fulfillment and joy than any short term pleasure the world brings.

By age 21, I was already taking on adult level responsibilities - Mentoring a young boy through Big Brothers, volunteering in conjunction with the police, counselling people on a crisis line, studying hard to I could get into law school, and learning the art of leading women during my salsa dance lessons. All these activities brought me more joy than video games, TV, or alcohol.
"Steve" | 03.30.08 - 4:29 pm | #