Maturity, Seasoning, and Growth

I want to muse on maturity: its marks, its, fruit, and its desirability. I wish I were there....hmmm..but I could wish for a million dollars. However, there may only be one way to get there: exercise. Yes, not just joining the Y, but actually going there, picking up the weights and working out. A tree yields fruit "in its season." A tree planted by the rivers of water takes on distinctive marks over time. In later years, it is strong and tall, not easily uprooted. Here are my top 10 markers:

1. Maturity chooses a response, instead of reacting. It chooses according to a value system that is deeply entrenched.

2. Maturity has a balance between love of God, love of self, and love of others. It is not self-absorbed.

3. Maturity has the ability to see the big picture.

4. Maturity is secure enough to be wrong. Therefore it exhibits a lack of defensiveness.

5. Maturity has the capacity to truly celebrate other's victories.

6. Maturity can be passionate without being phrenetic. The mind governs emotions.

7. Maturity can make distinctions in situations. It contains one of those large boxes of 64 crayons, not just 2: a black and a white.

8. Maturity is grounded in reality. (See "Who Moved My Cheese?")

9. Maturity has God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit on the throne and not self. Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.

10. Maturity is able to deal with disappointments and delayed gratification.