I find it fun to guess a person’s demographics before I actually sit down and talk with them. By using every external, hair, clothes, appearance, mannerisms, and shoes, one can presume to know the place that they know as home, their age, economic standing, family status, and values. You know, of course, that your guesses are probably wrong, but sometimes you are able to pinpoint most of the details because the person is a virtual picture for one moment in time.
I grew up determined that nobody would ever be able to predict my demographics. Over time, it has become a challenge to make sure that my openness to change did not stop. Certain aspects of time still appeal. Hairstyles when I was 16 to 18 are still very attractive, even though I know they are very dated. Clothes, especially the types of jeans that were popular from when I was in college still seem the most natural ones to choose. Values, methods, and priorities all seem to reflect different moments of my life. Growth and change seems illusive.
When I have my snap of their life ready, the best thing to do is sit down and get a real picture. The fun of comparing and contrasting the person with the perception tells much. I often wonder how interested any of us really are in “winning” at this game we call life. We all seem to have some part of us locked into a moment of our past, fixed forever at one point in time.
God offers us a different approach. His words are clear. “It’s through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life depends, and the years of your life ripen.” (Proverbs 9.11) His values, methods, and priorities are broad, clear, and flexible enough to be equally applicable for any day and time. The opportunity each of us has is to understand, accept, and then grow based on our relationship with Divinity itself.
Life is for living. Life is about growing so that we get the most of the best. Life with God never stops.
