When I first heard that the topic for this month’s synchroblog was “Maturity” I was excited. I even wrote a blog right away with some random thoughts on maturity. But, then it came time to actually write my synchroblog post and I didn’t really know what to write. I found that I couldn’t really write until I answered one important question:
What is maturity?
So, of course, I went were any respectable blogger would go for an answer, Wikipedia. Here’s what it said:
[...] with “Putting spiritual infants in charge” Bethany Stedman at Coffee Klatch with “Moving Towards True Being: The Long Process of Maturity” Adam Gonnerman at Igneous Quill with “Old Enough to Follow Christ?” Joe Miller [...]
[...] with “Putting spiritual infants in charge“ Bethany Stedman at Coffee Klatch with “Moving Towards True Being: The Long Process of Maturity“ Adam Gonnerman at Igneous Quill with “Old Enough to Follow Christ?“ Joe Miller [...]
Excellent thoughts – a very complete picture of maturity in a succinct post. I like this a lot. As I read I kept being reminded of Romans 8:28-29. God is working on us and bringing things to us to make us more into the image of Jesus – the One who was the perfect picture of maturity at the cross.
[...] with “Putting spiritual infants in charge“ Bethany Stedman at Coffee Klatch with “Moving Towards True Being: The Long Process of Maturity“ Adam Gonnerman at Igneous Quill with “Old Enough to Follow Christ?“ Joe Miller [...]
[...] with “Putting spiritual infants in charge” Bethany Stedman at Coffee Klatch with “Moving Towards True Being: The Long Process of Maturity” Adam Gonnerman at Igneous Quill with “Old Enough to Follow Christ?” Joe Miller [...]
Beth, Your post actually had me thinking about C. S. Lewis even before I got to the part where you used a quote from one of his books. I was thinking of his saying in Mere Christianity: “Give up yourself, and you will find your real self.”
and also about The Screwtape Letters when the demon, Screwtape is writing to his nephew, Wormwood, and is explaining that they don’t want the patient to find out that the “dying to self” that God is talking about is a death of a “false” self and that if the patient does this they will start to become who they really are. He goes on to say that they have to make the patient believe that God is trying to get him to give up who he is.
It seems that Lewis pondered this idea throughout a lot of his writings – but I think the example you gave is one of the most beautiful.
I think the moment that we “get” this are huge in our ability to move forward in our “going”. – Liz
Nice to meet you and thanks for your thoughts and good quotes on maturity.
FYI, the link to my actual blog is incorrect. If you don’t mind fixing it, it should be http://www.morethancake.org/2008/09/intentional-relationships-for-maturity.html
Joe, I just fixed the link and it should work fine now
Thanks for letting me know about the mistake and thanks for your thoughts on this topic – I enjoyed reading them earlier today.
Liz, I had forgotten about that part in the screwtape letters I will have to go back and read that again – thanks for sharing it!
[...] and Education“ KW Leslie at The Evening of Kent Bethany Stedman at Coffee Klatch with Moving Towards True Being: The Long Process of Maturity Adam Gonnerman at Igneous Quill with “Old Enough to Follow Christ?“ Joe Miller at More [...]
beth – so many rich and powerful thoughts in here. i especially like “maturity is the process of becoming.” i think when we embrace that, that it’s not a goal, something to be achieved, but an ongoing process, it is a big release. may we be lifelong learners! thanks for sharing….
Hi Beth–
I really liked this post–it showed some deep thought about the subject.
I forgot to work into my post the little ditty: ‘Maturity is being who my dog thinks I am’ or something like that…
Your post says it much more eloquently, but I do like the thought of becoming the kind, generous, fun, humane person my dog sees me as!
Thanks again–
Beth P.