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One
need not know Latin to know "time flies;" but awareness
of its fleeting nature seems reserved for the older. So we were
intrigued by a teaching method introduced into a young people's
class in Arkansas. The instructor asked the students to say to
themselves, "I am now 20 years older" — and then try
to imagine where I will live, how I will look, what will be my
circumstances.
After
the first wave of foolishness wears away, and the class begins to
think as realistically as possible, the teacher leads them to
ask', "What kind of wife or husband I want," or,
"Will I be capable of handling a good job?" Obviously
the youngsters cannot be "matured" instantaneously, but
with proper guidance they can get a glimpse of what lays ahead.
And when attitudes seem right, the teacher begins to inquire about
spiritual goals and relate high ideals, principles of Christ, to
the good life here, and to the life hereafter. How do you want
your children to behave, and how can you guide them to know what
you know? Skillful use of this tactic can produce useful
introspection — and seeing ourselves is a tremendous step
toward self-improvement.
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Future
time can be better realized by comparing it to past time. Looking back,
5 years seems very brief; yet the future 5 years have exactly the
same number of hours: only then we will be ___ years old; and how
better prepared to meet our Maker?
I
remember telling a girl who was not particularly enthusiastic
about finishing school: "Five years from now you could be a
widow with two small children to support." It seems
ridiculous to youth — but Oh how real it can become, and Oh so
soon.
"Wherefore
he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and
Christ shall shine upon thee. Look therefore carefully how ye
walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the
days are evil" (Eph. 5:14-16). "Redeeming the time"
is "buying up the opportunity" in footnote. We only have
NOW for certain, and what we do NOW will determine our future. So
very soon NOW will be our past opportunity.
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