From Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata:
“Take kindly the counsel of years. Gracefully surrendering the things of youth.”
I’ve never really focused on this line, but today it caught my eye. To the extent I thought of it, I saw it as referring to external counsel – sort of an admonition to listen to folks wiser than me. On reflection it occurs to me that Ehrmann is encouraging me to listen to myself more, the seasoned me, and, at the same time, let go of those youthful perceptions that have guided me thus far. All of which reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13:11: “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Which of course begs the questions – Have I put away childish things? Have I surrendered (or am I surrendering) the things of youth?
It occurs to me... 