A few hours after my walk in Gresham, Oregon, I found myself stopping in The Dalles, Oregon. The Dalles, which is located on the shores of the Columbia River near the Deschutes River, has a labyrinth at Mid Columbia Health Center. If I remember reading about this correctly, the labyrinth doubles as the hospital’s helipad for medical emergencies.
Fortunately, there were no emergencies happening in this quiet community. I lingered there less than a half hour, stopping in the late morning just before 10:00 a.m. on September 26, 2022.
It’s also the second labyrinth in a row today where I found tiny heart chips in the concrete (sorry- no pics!).
Don’t confuse youthfulness with immaturity
To be youthful is to approach the world around us with a perspective that is open to innovation and creativity- to be adventurous and curious. A youthful attitude is a positive trait that is essential to our growth and development, allowing us to learn from mistakes and grow stronger as a result.
Immaturity can best be described as a lack of discipline that may result in impulsive decisions and impetuous actions. Immature people struggle to accept responsibility and accountability. They often disregard other people’s feelings and are selfish. Immaturity is a negative trait that impedes our progress and development- it is a detriment to our personal and professional life.
It is critical to be able to distinguish between the two- there is a big difference between the behavior of someone who is simply youthful and someone who is immature. Don’t confuse the two. Try to cultivate a youthful attitude of curiosity without falling into the trap of immaturity.
People crave connection, and they’ll seek it out (even in unhealthy places) if they don’t think they can find it where they are
I’ve seen it play out- in my life and in others- those times when the need for validation and acceptance trump common sense and good judgment.
I am reminded that in life, its best to play the long game when it comes to things like happiness, connection, and relationships.
And that’s about all I have to say about that.
#IYKYK
Some things have to be believed to be seen
It’s funny (but not) that my third and final “revelation” comes during a time of fasting, prayer, contemplation and… most of all, a period of WAITING (which, as you all know, I’m not particularly good at).
It was hard to determine what image best embodied this idea for me. From a faith perspective, I wanted something that wasn’t a miracle of the past, but a miracle that felt intimately personal to ME, my experience, and my pain and needs.
However, I also recognize that sharing these experiences means remembering that a ‘faith miracle’ may not resonate with some. I want people to focus on the message, not its presentation. Consequently, I picked an image from the innocence of my more hopeful youth.
Everything about this labyrinth walk spoke to me about maturity versus immaturity. Even now, when I look back at it more than a year later, it seems a reminder that patience and maturity will yield better and more long-lasting rewards than impetuousness and infantilism.
