True Maturity – Does it still exist? Can we reach it?
Having watched our children and now our grandchildren grow up has been such a wonderful ride..most of the time. Of course, we had to grow up too, right? Each of us is still in that process of growing up, and by “growing up” I mean reaching maturity. The body grows when nurtured; it matures according to a genetic blueprint.
Emotional Maturity is another story altogether, as is Spiritual Maturity. I am pretty sure all three of these maturation processes are connected, but today I want to focus on the Emotional and Spiritual dimensions.
Here is my thought on the topic:
Me 2 We 2 You 2 Him
When we begin life our existence is all about “Me”. I am the center of my world and my needs are more important than anything or anyone. I will cry or pout or scream if my needs and wants are not addressed quickly. Even my wants become as important as my true needs, and I will let you know about those too. Even if I can’t speak, I expect you to identify my needs and wants, interpret my cries and babbling, then get busy taking care of ME.
Next: (Me 2 We) At some point we recognize there are others in this world besides ME. When we see others and realize they have needs, wishes, and wants, we begin to mature and perhaps learn to yield to others, share with others, and include others in our world as we hope to be included in theirs.
Then: (We2You) The next phase in my definition of maturity is the “YOU” phase, where we are not only generally aware of others but also of specific others who become our focus. We may be particularly drawn to a parent, grandparent, friend, relative, etc. Now I can and will care about “You” even more than all others. As we mature, we think less of self (ME) and more of others or a certain other (YOU). This phase will become more and more selfless as we move away from childish selfishness. (Me 2 We 2 You) But there is a catch. We need a heart change as well as a cultural adaptation.
We likely will move from ME 2 WE then WE 2 YOU, but to sustain the progress and become willing to recognize the needs above our own, even when it hurts, we need a real and perhaps radical heart change. From ME 2 WE 2 YOU now turns to HIM. I am speaking of Jesus Christ. The wonder of it all is that when I receive Christ’s forgiveness and new life, He changes my inmost motivations to His. Love is now the fuel in my life-reactor. Without Him and His gift of love, my transition may very well go from “ME 2 WE 2 YOU” and back “2 ME” so that in the end, I could become just as self-focused as a spoiled child. And, we don’t want that to happen. Do we?
Can you identify people in each phase? Any you know who has moved from ME 2 HIM and you know it? Any that are still stuck in ME? Where are you? Don’t think that’s what is meant by a second childhood. Or is it?