WHEN I WAS 18
Age is not synonymous to being mature. Just because you are growing older does not guarantee that you are becoming mature. I know this is alarming news to some who reach certain ages in their life. Age is literally a number or stage in life. Even the dictionary backs that up. As a noun it is “the time of life at which some particular qualification, power, or capacity arises or rests (the voting age is 18); one of the stages of life; the length of an existence extending from the beginning to any given time (a boy 10 years of age); lifetime; an advanced stage of life”. There is more to the definition. Just look it up in the dictionary. I recently read a quote I like very much, by Groucho Marx, “Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough”. This is so true.
As a verb age is “to become old, show the effects or the characteristics of increasing age; to acquire a desirable quality (as mellowness or ripeness) by standing undisturbed for some time (letting cheese age)”. Guess what? I found another anonymous quote on age I liked, “Age is of no importance unless you are a cheese”. That one is funny.
Cheese leads me to the wine. Does not wine mature as it ages? I am not an expert so just flow with me in my thought process. If I am older, then I am like fine wine. Right? Let us see. The definition of mature as an adjective states, “having completed natural growth and development, ripe; having undergone maturation; having attained a final or desired state (mature wine). Can this process be ruined? Is it automatic? Under proper conditions, a wine will improve as it ages. This has to be however under the right conditions. Just because it is stashed away to grow old will not make it a good mature, delightful wine. “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins." -- Mark 2:22 NIV,
So just because one gets older, does not mean one automatically matures. Everyone and everything has its timing and place. Watch out for the clichés! Take your time to smell the roses, the coffee, the smelly socks your brother left in the middle of the living room, a baby’s diaper, a fried egg, clay, markers, crayons, Thanksgiving turkey, chocolate, burned rubber, a new car. Experience life! You need the right conditions and the proper things around you to get to the place you want to be. Or do you think you have, “ta-da”, arrived? What are your conditions? What is surrounding you that may hinder a wonderful maturing process? Are you hindering yourself? Are you going too fast and missing a lot of details and aspects that will make you like that fine wine you think you are now. Do not be a “wanna be”. Do you have clarity? Do you have a robust flavor? A good mature wine has a delightful bouquet, color and even texture. Experts can just swirl the wine around in their wine glass and see how special the wine is, or not. If a storm comes swirling into your life would your “texture” withhold the test?
Landmark birthdays are awesome. I have celebrated every one of them with something memorable. I will turn 40 at the end of this year and could remember as if it was yesterday when I was 18. I actually remember Pre-K. But at 18, I thought I knew everything. I felt no one could tell me anything new or different. I thought ”I am an adult now”. At 18, I proclaimed to know everything. When I turned 21, I realized the silly beliefs I held onto were things that held me back in some areas. I had very harmful habits that blinded me. I realized that I did not know everything but I still knew a whole lot more than my parents did. I went to college.
At 25, I experienced owning my own car and having credit and paying off college loans. I had to pay taxes! I realized that my parents were extremely hard working people that did their best to give me what I needed. Having my own bills and responsibilities demonstrated that to me. Then at 30, I saw much of me in my parents. However, that changed when I turned 35 and realized that it was really much of them in me.
At the end of this year when I will be turning 40, concern is for my parents. I want them to retire happy and comfortable. I do not stop praying and thinking on how I can be a blessing to them just like they have been a blessing to me. When I was 18, I thought my parents would never ever “get it”. I thought they did not have a clue. They could never possibly know all the things I did. Nearing 40 I realize, they cannot know everything I know. They know more! They are geniuses who gave me the best advice, the best they could, their heart and their life just so I could sit back now and enjoy them in my life as wine aficionados appreciate the finest of wines.
When I was 18, I thought I was mature. Close to being 40, I am only half way there.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
411
411 IS UNIVERSALLY KNOWN AS INFORMATION. Well I do not know about the universe but in all of the United States. Right? Well regardless of specific and detailed instructions given to people for information they continue to ask secondary sources. Hypothetically posing an example I could tell someone, I have a tattoo on my butt. They should either believe it or not. Better yet, they should not care. Whatever the reaction it really does not matter. 
You asked information about me that is personal and I gave you the answer. So then, why do you have to go and ask someone else to confirm if I have a tattoo on my butt? Would I have shown them my butt? Would it be personal information they need to know? Are they the best person to ask? So why do it then? You cannot get personal information about me that is true unless it comes from me. You can come close, but close does not cut it.
So why am I venting? What is the real issue? Well first, I just want to say that I do not have a tattoo on my butt. Now that that is out of the way let me express myself. Someone asked me, about the seminary I attend. I told them the basics, “It’s great, I passed all my classes, dream come true”. Cool? OK so the next question is "What do I have to do to enroll"? Therefore, I give them the direct contact person and their information. I give them… should I say it, should I… DETAILS! I give them details, the name of the person, when they will return to the office after the holidays, the telephone number, the extension number, the email address, the website, the address of the school. This direct contact knows the ins and outs of the entire program. The recipient of this information presses on with more questions like, “How do I register”. I said, “Oh the contact person can give you all that good information. Since it is a special admissions process and it is mid-way the academic year, he would be the best person to ask”.
Is this the end? Unfortunately, no. The drama continues. I am CRAZY busy at work. Moreover, anyone who has ever seen me at work or even come to volunteer and help me knows I am not exaggerating. This person who I gave the information to calls my extension to transfer a call to inquire about the seminary. Really? Really. I have million papers to push and now I am the direct 411 to this seminary. FOR CRYING OUTLOUD! This young man asks me nicely about the program. Therefore, I responded verbatim with the name of the person, when they will return to the office after the holidays, the telephone number, the extension number, the email address, the website, the address of the school. They sounded disappointed. What? Was I supposed to tell them what the real contact person expertly knows? So this is the end of the story, right?
No, it is not! The same person asks me why I did not give this young man the information. I stated in the calmest voice that I could because by this time I was aggravated. I said that I gave the BEST most DETAILED information I could possible give because the person I referred them to had all the 411 on the program, on tuition, on registration and everything. The person looked at me as if I had a third eye and told me that someone else told her that I was the best contact. I said, ‘I do not work for the seminary. I am just a student”. Which by the way, I have passed with almost straight A’s. I say almost because one grade was an A-.
So where was I? Oh yes, I stated to the person that I sincerely gave all the 411. Then she speaks to me in an aggravated voice to me. TO ME! She questioned as to why the person was not calling her back. How the heck should I know? However, if you have been paying attention to this narrative and you have great reading comprehension, you have realized that in my DETAILS I did state that the person is AWAY for the holiday. I do not know about you, but when I am on vacation, I speak to no one but room service.
Another thing that I know will bother me, I feel it with much anxiety, is if any tiny bit of information I say does not coincided with information from the contact person the inquiring mind will say, “But Letty said”. I hate this. I hate this possibly more than assumptions. I freely gave the right contact information to the REAL 411 connection. USE IT!
One last exaggerated example that just popped into my head and I will hate myself if I do not use it. Let us say, hypothetically, again, someone asked me, “Where can I find Salvation”? Well duh, I am going to tell that person, “Jesus” and I will point the way and even give them some written instructions (the Bible). This person seeking salvation will then ask me,” So how did you get saved?” So, I REPEAT the same answer. They respond, “OK so how can I get saved?” I say, “Ummm I just told you…. Jesus… He is the way the truth and the life”. “Yeah cool, but I was told that you had the 411”. “Yes, I just gave it to you. Now take a step of faith and go to Him”. “So did it cost you anything”? “No, it is free”. “Yeah but you are telling me this and I am still not saved”. “…because you have to G-O, go T-O, tooooooooooooo HHHIIIMMM”.
So what is the moral in this blog? I do not have a tattoo on my butt. I am not anyone’s personal 411. I can only share information I have to help you. Use the information given to proceed on with the desires in your life. I can and will not do it for you. Finally, I am just the messenger. Go to the main source. Jesus is the one who saves.
You asked information about me that is personal and I gave you the answer. So then, why do you have to go and ask someone else to confirm if I have a tattoo on my butt? Would I have shown them my butt? Would it be personal information they need to know? Are they the best person to ask? So why do it then? You cannot get personal information about me that is true unless it comes from me. You can come close, but close does not cut it.So why am I venting? What is the real issue? Well first, I just want to say that I do not have a tattoo on my butt. Now that that is out of the way let me express myself. Someone asked me, about the seminary I attend. I told them the basics, “It’s great, I passed all my classes, dream come true”. Cool? OK so the next question is "What do I have to do to enroll"? Therefore, I give them the direct contact person and their information. I give them… should I say it, should I… DETAILS! I give them details, the name of the person, when they will return to the office after the holidays, the telephone number, the extension number, the email address, the website, the address of the school. This direct contact knows the ins and outs of the entire program. The recipient of this information presses on with more questions like, “How do I register”. I said, “Oh the contact person can give you all that good information. Since it is a special admissions process and it is mid-way the academic year, he would be the best person to ask”.
Is this the end? Unfortunately, no. The drama continues. I am CRAZY busy at work. Moreover, anyone who has ever seen me at work or even come to volunteer and help me knows I am not exaggerating. This person who I gave the information to calls my extension to transfer a call to inquire about the seminary. Really? Really. I have million papers to push and now I am the direct 411 to this seminary. FOR CRYING OUTLOUD! This young man asks me nicely about the program. Therefore, I responded verbatim with the name of the person, when they will return to the office after the holidays, the telephone number, the extension number, the email address, the website, the address of the school. They sounded disappointed. What? Was I supposed to tell them what the real contact person expertly knows? So this is the end of the story, right?
No, it is not! The same person asks me why I did not give this young man the information. I stated in the calmest voice that I could because by this time I was aggravated. I said that I gave the BEST most DETAILED information I could possible give because the person I referred them to had all the 411 on the program, on tuition, on registration and everything. The person looked at me as if I had a third eye and told me that someone else told her that I was the best contact. I said, ‘I do not work for the seminary. I am just a student”. Which by the way, I have passed with almost straight A’s. I say almost because one grade was an A-.
So where was I? Oh yes, I stated to the person that I sincerely gave all the 411. Then she speaks to me in an aggravated voice to me. TO ME! She questioned as to why the person was not calling her back. How the heck should I know? However, if you have been paying attention to this narrative and you have great reading comprehension, you have realized that in my DETAILS I did state that the person is AWAY for the holiday. I do not know about you, but when I am on vacation, I speak to no one but room service.
Another thing that I know will bother me, I feel it with much anxiety, is if any tiny bit of information I say does not coincided with information from the contact person the inquiring mind will say, “But Letty said”. I hate this. I hate this possibly more than assumptions. I freely gave the right contact information to the REAL 411 connection. USE IT!
One last exaggerated example that just popped into my head and I will hate myself if I do not use it. Let us say, hypothetically, again, someone asked me, “Where can I find Salvation”? Well duh, I am going to tell that person, “Jesus” and I will point the way and even give them some written instructions (the Bible). This person seeking salvation will then ask me,” So how did you get saved?” So, I REPEAT the same answer. They respond, “OK so how can I get saved?” I say, “Ummm I just told you…. Jesus… He is the way the truth and the life”. “Yeah cool, but I was told that you had the 411”. “Yes, I just gave it to you. Now take a step of faith and go to Him”. “So did it cost you anything”? “No, it is free”. “Yeah but you are telling me this and I am still not saved”. “…because you have to G-O, go T-O, tooooooooooooo HHHIIIMMM”.
So what is the moral in this blog? I do not have a tattoo on my butt. I am not anyone’s personal 411. I can only share information I have to help you. Use the information given to proceed on with the desires in your life. I can and will not do it for you. Finally, I am just the messenger. Go to the main source. Jesus is the one who saves.
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