“Aging is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter!” Satchel Page
I took this picture the day down by one of our lake where I found a couple of teenagers swinging away and having a high old time to boot. Striking up a conversation I asked if they came there a lot to swing. The one answered, “No, neither one of us have done this for a long t50e, but this week we graduate from high-school, and we just wanted one more moment of remembering how it felt to be young before we go out into the world and get jobs and all that grown-up stuff.” I had to chuckle a little, “You almost make it sound like a death sentence” I told him. My young friend responded, “Well my dad always tells me I’ve had it too easy and now I was finally going to get a taste of what the real world is like.” I’ve thought about that conversation many times over the last several weeks, especially since this month marks 39 years from the day I “left my childhood behind” as this lad’s dad would put it. And from his reaction, I got the impression he fully believed the best days of his life were now behind him.
I’m on a tight schedule today, so I don’t have time for a long drawn out investigation into this mind set. Truthfully though, I feel I could wrap it with a one-word rebuttal–BULL!
Listen carefully, everyday of your life you are given the opportunity to be young. Whenever you laugh, whenever you share yourself with someone else, whenever you start the day thankful for all you have, or maybe don’t have, you are staying young. Satchel Page was one of the 1st black baseball players to make it into the major leagues and only got the chance to pitch in one game. He had spent many years in the Negro Baseball League, but no one ever knew exactly how old he was. He approached life in the same manner as his quote I used. He also had another gem I liked, “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?” A number meant nothing to Mr. Page, it was what was in his heart everyday he woke up and every time he stepped on a ball field no matter where it was; he was there to give his best and have the time of his life!
How many of us can remember moments or recite words that were passed on to us by our parents, grandparents or someone that was much older than we were at the time, but in certain ways really didn’t seem that old. I can remember occasions being outside playing and a voice would call from the front porch, “Johnny, our program is on.” That would be my Great Aunt Pearl calling me for her and me to watch the Beatles on television together!
Look, we all have matters in our life that try us to the limit, that put years on us in some form or another, I know this. Possibly the direction you thought you were heading in life took a wild detour to a place you never intended or wanted to me, but that sure doesn’t mean give up and just roll along until your days here on earth have ended. The child in each of us still lives; you just have to seek him out at times, and don’t be afraid to do so. No matter what is going on in your life, there is still room to enjoy each day–laughing, sharing, giving, maybe forgiving. Studies have shown that unforgiveness is a major stagnation that hamper happiness in people’s lives; just a thought.
Like I said, I’m on a short time table this week so I’m gong to leave you with 2 verses that add to what I’m saying. One comes from James1:2 and Matthew19:14.
Got to get to the airport to pick some people up and the day really takes off. But before it’s over, I think I’d like to get my Lady, my Girlfriend, by the hand, take a walk and perhaps stop at a park and do some swinging. How many of you kids are with me?!! 🙂
Traveling the Rock Road 
Leave a Reply