Through the Eyes of a Ragamuffin by Rich Mullins

What are the benefits of youth vs wisdom?? Rick Mullins included this excerpt in his book about his life and the columns he wrote for Release magazine, regarding the benefits of being young vs benefits of growing older (ages 18 vs. 40, from his experiences).It hit a chord as i just celebrated my 58th birthday, although I could probably add another column for 50's:
*" At 18 if you have oversized aspirations the whole world sees you as a dreamer...at 40 you
get the reputation for being a visionary,
*at 18 if you have thrown in the towel you are called a loser...at 40 you are called down to
earth- a realist,
*at 18 time fits you like a pair of pants big enough to swim in ...at 40 time fits so tight you can't
button your collar,
*at 18 if you play in the rain, howl at the moon,paint,invent, or compose songs or poems you are
accused of being childish...at 40 you are praised for being childlike,
* at 18 your sails are full...at 40 your rudder runs deep,
*at 18 people misjudge your character flaws as being mere bad habits that they might change...
at 40 people misjudge every bad habit as being a mark of weak character and they dismiss
you as being a lesson in reprobation or just accept you as a friend,
* at 18 no one knows as much as you...at 40 you begin to understand the wisdom of Solomon in
his saying 'So stay alive...a living dog is better than a dead lion'.

Rich Mullins has some deep faith walk reflections in his columns he wrote for Release...this was just one of his lighter ones. I enjoyed this short devotional book which only takes a few hours to read and recommend it as good food for thought. Rich Mullins during his successful christian music career decided to finish his college degree in music education and chose to work for 2 years on an Indian Reservation teaching music to Native American children in the southwest, before his death in a car accident in 1997. He is the author of many well know praise and worship songs used in churches all over the U.S.