Today we'll explore the various phases of life, how we learn, change & grow. Lots here that can apply to every phase of life (they overlap significantly).
There are 5 phases of aging:
1) Training
2) Apprentice
3) Pursuit/Establishment
4) Wisdom in living
5) Final years
1) Training (roughly birth through 22 yrs) is probably the most critical phase since it establishes the platform for the rest of life. These are the formative years where we learn potty training, how to share, who we are, what's good/bad. If our parents/society/college were successful we graduate this phase of life with the problem solving skills to make good choices.
2) Apprentice (roughly 22 though 27, but possibly 35 or the rest of your life): These years start when the young (~22) individual truly enters the real world. Probably includes a first "real" job (might call it the start of a career?). The main characteristic of this phase is a steep learning curve. Generally speaking, one example is the new college graduate. They've got the degree, but little to no real experience. In those first few years, they usually put things together at a quick pace. Note: this phase can be repeated with a significant life/job change.
3) Pursuit/Establishment (roughly 25-35, but can be significantly different): This one ties back to training (our values) and what society tell us (values). We're adults so we choose (to some degree) what values we embrace or discard. At a minimum, most individuals establish a home (apartment, house, etc.) and a routine. Some individuals establish a family (I'm not an expert on that, but I hear it's a pretty big undertaking (smile)).
There is a key choice during this phase which dictates how long it lasts. If you subscribe to materialism (more is better) and the american dream (I'll be happy if I'm always upgrading cars, houses, cabins, etc.) this could be a very long phase of life. If you are content with less and focused differently this phase can be shorter.
Before we get to the 4th phase (Wisdom in living), let's talk about the 1st Enlightenment: This is a milestone that typically is realized between 30 & 40 yrs. It may occur in Phase 3 or 4. 1st Enlightenment can be many things, but in a nutshell it is realizing our mortality in a more profound way which leads to many things: different perspective on time, money, things, people, relationships, family, etc. It can lead to a true purpose, vision or a calling.
4) Wisdom in living (roughly 35 to 65 years): This is the longest phase we've discussed so far. Hopefully there's some sense of arrival. You've been through training and the fast learning of the apprentice phase. During your pursuit/establishment phase you've established ____, ____ & _____. Hopefully you've had your 1st enlightenment which will guide you during this phase. Another way to think of the "wisdom in living" phase is to "keep on keeping on". We practice, test things, grow, apply our growth, try again, try new directions. As you can imagine, this phase can have ups, downs and significant changes of course. Keep on keeping on (smile).
5) Final years & 2nd Enlightenment (roughly 65 to 100 (expiration)): For today, I'll disregard finances & health and assume they are both non-factors which isn't the case, but to keep it simple... With 65+ years of experience and the world politics, economics & technology changing faster than ever, you now have TIME and the world at your finger tips. Not that you didn't accomplish and achieve great purposeful things in your first 65 years, but now you are financially free (asssumed healthy) but generationally set apart. Your kids are in one of the aformentioned phases and your grandkids are in training. So now what?!
So many paths from here, but the one thing remains constant in every phase of life is here too: Time and Money (the currency of life). Money is easier so we'll start with it... Make sure your money outlasts you, not the other way around. Plan for when you are gone to maximize the money that they (your kids or favorite charity) will get. Money is for spending and you can't take it with you. Spend it on good investments that build and provide a return: education, the young, charity, family, friends, start a foundation, invest in yourself (a trip, seminar, etc.), invest in others (contribute to someone elses phase of life).
Now on to time, the harder of the two... Actually it's not harder because the answer is the same!! Spend it on good investments that build and provide a return:
education, the young, charity, family, friends, start a foundation,
invest in yourself (a trip, seminar, etc.), invest in others (contribute
to someone elses phase of life).
Write a book, teach a seminar (see note 1), but whatever you do with your time and money, make sure it's after your 2nd Enlightenment: Its not about you, your establishement or accomplishments. It never was! True enlightenment is to die to yourself daily. To pick up your cross daily. Not in the hopes that there will be enough left over for you at the end, but to be poured out completely, empty yet lacking nothing because you need nothing. Difficult to maintain this place of freedom, peace and contentment in a society that screams otherwise, but it can be done and its up to YOU!
THANKS FOR READING!!!!
Note 1: Teaching from the "final years" phase can be difficult. Relevancy will escape you and if you do not adjust accordingly two things will happen: your audience won't get it and you will get frustrated. Similar to Nicodemus' question to Jesus "how can a man be born again when he is old?" you must delve into the prior phases, but not from your past, but from people's current experience (this may involve becoming a student yourself! It will be a roller coaster.). Learn and teach, but above all else put on love (see Col 3:14 and 1 Cor 13).
Discussion Questions (for individual or group reflection):
1) What phase are you currently in? What happened good or bad in previous phases that is making the road challenging or easy?
2) From your story, what would you add or change to the 5 phases listed above?
3) Have you had your 1st enlightenment? What was it? How is it impacting your day to day? How do you practically incorporate it into life? Can you give examples?
4) Same question for 2nd enlightenment.
5) Can you steal things from future phases and apply them in your current phase? Why or why not?
6) What was one nugget or item that stuck out to you as you read/reflected on these topics?
7) What are you going to try to do differently in the future? How will you apply this?
