The Ages of a Man
A man's life has four distinct phases and I've been pondering them for awhile as I try to understand myself and those that I interact with on a daily basis.
The Boy
From birth to about 20 years old a boy's life is mostly self-centered and focused on painfully learning how the world works. He really doesn't want to learn from books or talking but by trying and doing. A boy knows no bounds and has infinite hope that tomorrow will be better although he usually lives for the minute. He can't wait to be just a bit older so he can do the things that his elders do thus he squanders much of his youth wanting to be a man. Oftentimes a boy will ruin his life by focusing too much of his attention on the fairer sex before he is able to pay the bills that his body creates. The boy loves the glances and attention of a comely lass, seeking and getting them often.
The Young Man
Age 20 to 40 years the young man grows to his full physical strength then begins to fade. This phase of a man's life is characterized by building. The man builds a life, his career, a house, a family and a personae. He fine tunes his understanding of how the world works by learning any way that he can. The man begins to understand his bounds but still has high hopes for tomorrow. He is a very social creature who develops bonds with friends and family, transitioning from self-centered to other-centered being. If he is lucky he will find a good woman then be a good man to develop a lifetime relationship with his spouse. The young man finds glory in the attentions of the fairer sex and watches them come then fade as he ages.
The Adult Man
Age 40 to 60 years the adult man begins to feel that he is slipping even though he knows he is much wiser than ever before in his life. In this phase a man is finishing his career, his children and fleshing out his personae. Often the adult man will pursue deep learning and understanding oftentimes to dispell his nagging doubts about himself. The bounds are well established and closing in and hope for tomorrow fades as health and financial concerns limit his future.Uusally his social network narrows as family, parents and work consume most of his time and energy. Mostly he is losing control and worries about how it all will end. The attention of women fades then ends as the man approaches old age. He becomes invisible to most women eventually except for his wife-friend who holds him dearer still.
The Old Man
From age 60 to death the old man fades into oblivion. Wise but often ignored the old man closes his career and begins living vicariously through his children and grandchildren. The old man comes to terms with his life and ponders the past, wondering what became of those he encountered during his life journey. Everything becomes dearer, even his troubles as he recalls them. New hard limitations arise daily and he knows there is no hope but Jesus' promise for life after death. He grows tired of life and troubles and pain. Slowly, every day he fades to become the child he once was until he just slips away, usually leaving his wife-friend alone and heart-broken.
And so goes the life of a man, from child to the crown of creation and back to child. Some do so gracefully and others painfully. If we can just not create problems in our lives we can have a good life, a life worth living.
The Boy
From birth to about 20 years old a boy's life is mostly self-centered and focused on painfully learning how the world works. He really doesn't want to learn from books or talking but by trying and doing. A boy knows no bounds and has infinite hope that tomorrow will be better although he usually lives for the minute. He can't wait to be just a bit older so he can do the things that his elders do thus he squanders much of his youth wanting to be a man. Oftentimes a boy will ruin his life by focusing too much of his attention on the fairer sex before he is able to pay the bills that his body creates. The boy loves the glances and attention of a comely lass, seeking and getting them often.
The Young Man
Age 20 to 40 years the young man grows to his full physical strength then begins to fade. This phase of a man's life is characterized by building. The man builds a life, his career, a house, a family and a personae. He fine tunes his understanding of how the world works by learning any way that he can. The man begins to understand his bounds but still has high hopes for tomorrow. He is a very social creature who develops bonds with friends and family, transitioning from self-centered to other-centered being. If he is lucky he will find a good woman then be a good man to develop a lifetime relationship with his spouse. The young man finds glory in the attentions of the fairer sex and watches them come then fade as he ages.
The Adult Man
Age 40 to 60 years the adult man begins to feel that he is slipping even though he knows he is much wiser than ever before in his life. In this phase a man is finishing his career, his children and fleshing out his personae. Often the adult man will pursue deep learning and understanding oftentimes to dispell his nagging doubts about himself. The bounds are well established and closing in and hope for tomorrow fades as health and financial concerns limit his future.Uusally his social network narrows as family, parents and work consume most of his time and energy. Mostly he is losing control and worries about how it all will end. The attention of women fades then ends as the man approaches old age. He becomes invisible to most women eventually except for his wife-friend who holds him dearer still.
The Old Man
From age 60 to death the old man fades into oblivion. Wise but often ignored the old man closes his career and begins living vicariously through his children and grandchildren. The old man comes to terms with his life and ponders the past, wondering what became of those he encountered during his life journey. Everything becomes dearer, even his troubles as he recalls them. New hard limitations arise daily and he knows there is no hope but Jesus' promise for life after death. He grows tired of life and troubles and pain. Slowly, every day he fades to become the child he once was until he just slips away, usually leaving his wife-friend alone and heart-broken.
And so goes the life of a man, from child to the crown of creation and back to child. Some do so gracefully and others painfully. If we can just not create problems in our lives we can have a good life, a life worth living.
posted by lugh lampfhota at 2:24 PM
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