Sounds like a silly question to me.
Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/jogging-run-sport-jog-sporty-race-2343558/
Or perhaps I should ask the question.
Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/art-pottery-clay-craft-hands-man-1837073/
Which leads me to the questions I've been asked to answer for this edition of the Hive Learners challenge.
If you have the opportunity to reduce your age..... will you do it?
At first glance it doesn't seem to be as silly a question as the first two that I asked. No-one would want to restart a marathon after they have gotten well into it. Only a fool judges a piece of artwork that has yet to be completed. However, I bet a lot of people would like to have a **DO OVER** or be younger again.
At first I thought...Ohhh, what would I do if I could de-age myself but the more I thought about it the less the idea appealed to me.
Seriously?
Who wouldn't want to lose the age?
- Wake up without mystery pains, sore feet and shuffling like an old man?
- Look in the mirror and not see an old man looking back at me.
- Read a book without finding glasses first
- Flirt with a beautiful girl
- Exercise and know there will be gains in the end.
Or maybe have a second chance to do things I didn't get to do before?
- Exercise more so I could get a better looking wife
- Study more so I could get a better job
- Be more self confident so I could win more friends
- Invest more wisely so I could be richer in the future
But I think anyone who thinks that has missed the point.
Let me take a couple examples:
FIRST
Suppose I made myself younger so I could study harder and get a better paying job. Sounds great...except....
That means I'd have to study study study, work hard to find a job....then WORK WORK WORK to make the money! I've already spent the last 28 years working, do I really want to go back and spend another 28 years working?
Second
Go back to a younger body and keep my current knowledge, wisdon, and financial success.
Sure I am more likely to find an attractive partner. Probaby even be some youthful energetic sex. Sounds good so far.....
BUT.....
I'd still be an old man in a young body. My likes and manners are from a generation long gone. That would make things difficult. However, even if I can surmount that....
I have been married for 24 years. I've raised two children to adults (mostly). If you are unaware that is HARD WORK. Sure its rewarding but there are good times and bad and a lot of work to keep the family together.
Would I want to start that all over again just so I can get a young beautiful woman?
Wow.... NO WAY!
I'm not perfect and my life isn't perfect.
However, every decision I've made both good and bad have made me who I am.
I've worked hard for my family and home and would not give it up for anything.
I'm looking forward to the final years of my life and the final reward I get when Jesus calls me home.
So, I will politely decline becoming younger precisely because of those first two questions I asked.
Would I want to restart a marathon.
NO
Life is a marathon. It's long. It's hard. It leaves you feeling tired beyond what you think you can endure. However, it is rewarding at the end to see how far you have come.
Or an image from the Bible:
"12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.Source: Hebrews 12:1 NLT
I've been running the race God has set before me for over 50 years. I have no desire to run this marathon again! I'm aiming to finish the race the best I can and enjoy every moment until I do.
Or a second image from the Bible.
And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.Source: Isaiah 64:8 NLT
God is still making me into the man he wants me to be. Becoming youthful again is like saying "Your doing this wrong, I want to do it better". I'm not sure what God is turning me into, but I'm not going to criticize the artist until the work is done.
And a final quote that isn't Biblical and I'd probably argue against it if given the chance. However, it seems fitting for the moment:
source: AZ Quotes of Fernando Sabino
Thanks for reading.