Friday, August 10, 2007

So Young, Yet So Old

It is interesting how age seems to be a matter of perspective. Before I go on, let me say that I know I am very young and that I lack experience. Having said that, the state of one's age seems to be based on which side of it you stand.
On Wednesday night I went to pick up my assigned kids for Bible study. We have an inner city program that our young adults operate and I do pick ups on Wednesday nights. Darius, a sweet 12 year old boy asked me what I thought when man first landed on the moon. He said that he had just watched a program about it. On the program they mentioned that many people at the time did not believe it was really happening. He wanted to know if I doubted it at the time. I asked him how old he thought I was. He told me that I had to be at least 40. Of course even if I were, I would not have been around for the moon landing.
Then after Bible class, an older member (I won't venture to assume her age as she did mine), came up and asked if I was mowing yards this summer to get a little extra cash. I explained that I would be glad to mow her yard for free. She went on to say that she lost her yard boy and she new there had to be a boy at church that would want to earn some money. I then asked her, "out of curiosity, how old do you think I am?" To which she replied, "I'd say you are about the same age as my great grandson and he is about 14."
One night, two very different perspectives. In the end it does not really matter. Yet, there is a lesson there. The view was the same for both people. I had not changed in the matter of an hour. But their perspective was based upon which side of the timeline they were standing on. This is worth remembering as we deal with people at church and work. It is all a matter of perspective. So young, yet so old.

3 comments:

jel said...

it use to make me mad when people would think I was young then what I was, but any more it doesn't , cause they don't say it that much and more , and 40 is young ,


have a great day!

cwinwc said...

At almost 49 I'm one of the "older members" of our young church. Yet when I'm mowing our church yard with "the boys" I'm the youngster.

leslie said...

that is funny to get two very different guesses in the space of an evening.

i have yet to be accused of being older than i am.. but i'm sure i help their perspective a bit.