Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, and every Dr. Seuss book ever written. I grew up with these stories ringing in my head, guiding me through life. Some were weird, and they taught me how to laugh. Others were more serious, and they helped shape the basis for right and wrong.

I’ve always wondered if I could write a children’s book, one that could someday make a child happy, or thoughtful, or sleepy. Maybe one day I will. For now, I’ll stick with stories about dying pets, injured birds of prey, and grieving spouses. I’m good at writing those.

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or cuddling with the wife, or meandering down the road with a shaky excuse and not a care. The purposes for these moments are becoming more and more relevant as my life quickly fills up with elements of adulthood and non-nonsensical decisions. In other words, if I want to play keep-away with my maturity, it’s essential to practice youth.

This doesn’t mean I’m not growing up. As the Relient K song I’ve been listening to on repeat for three weeks says, “wave goodbye as I outgrow the shadow of Peter Pan,” and I agree–getting older and staying irresponsible is just that, and not at all who I wish to be. Rather, I strive for a very Walt Disney-ish, Bill Murray-like state of being, wherein I create my own path in life, do what I enjoy, make people laugh, have fun along the way, and be unafraid of the end as when I started. What 3-year-old worries about when he’ll die, and if he’s lived to his fullest? None? All all? Really? Then I want to be like that kid.

Getting old is okay. People don’t check your ID as much, and your behavior even less. I stay up late, eat cereal before bed, make out with a woman without existential crisis, and pay my bills. It’s a life– but I don’t let it stay just a life. I need to make sure I do more than coast. No contentedness with normality. Go hard, go long. YOLO.

Just, maybe, rest every once in a while. Take a Sabbath. Or just a bath. Not because you stink. Not just. You know what I mean.

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It’s pretty hard. One of the reasons I didn’t do so well in college was PHP, but now I’m finally facing my demons and diving into the grit and grime and beauty of WordPress. My goal is for the current site formatting to look vastly different from its current styling and layout. All things must change.

The same goes for jobs. I’m pitching something big at work, and if it sticks, my life might change immensely. It’s exciting, but now a more dull, adultish excitement. 

Here’s to never growing up.

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Okay okay, an hour and a half away doesn’t count. But really, it’s not about the distance. It’s about how I spend my seconds. How I judge my actions, and thereby carry on accordingly. And, of course, how I plan to set my personal standards and stick by them, despite however much implied pressure put on my weak and pitiful being. So…where to begin?

What say we, at the start? (The following statements are not for the weak of heart!)

#1 – I AM A CHRISTIAN, GOD-FEARING MAN!
This is defined by my actions towards first, my God: Is my relationship with Him strong? Full of effort? Spent in the Word? Uplifting? Worshipful? Unshakable? Indestructible? Probably not…there’s work to be done! Second, my Christian manliness is defined by the way I treat others: Am I selfless? Do I put others first? Is my focus on other people before myself? Are people placed under God? Is my attitude selfless and outpouring to others? Plenty to work on there, too. And finally, is my life in order? Do I possess the qualities I would seek for in a wife? Do I contain my instant gratification and control my thoughtlessness? Am I a good steward of what I have been given? Am I a good role model for those younger than myself?

Self-evaluation cannot come close to finding the ingrown sin I have leeching on me, but each time I fail, and follow through with repentance and renewed strength, I have beaten another sinful cell from my body.

#2 – I AM A STUDENT! WHO CAN’T GROW A BEARD!
My studies, and the gifts of a painless education, must not be wasted on frivolous living expenses. Lunch with people is fine…Carrabbas twice a week is not. Dropping homework to support a friend is okay sometimes…forgetting assignments and wasting time is not. My duty in life is now set up like so: A) God. B) School. C) Not school. Sadly…this must take effect the minute I step onto campus. So note like this will be rare next year. Or, if they are more populous, you must smite me with cans of potpourri.

#3 – I AM A WORKER, WHO MUST ONE DAY SUPPORT A FAMILY!
Well, it’s not like I didn’t already know that. But when cool new gadgets come out, and I start drooling over the free subscription tech magazines I ordered…things can get out of control. I’ve always been that way…I can usually contain myself and be calm…except around electronics. I bet I would get addicted to the slot machines before I got addicted to the gambling. So to continue- When I make money, and if the money seems to be pouring in at great magnitude, and there’s extra and to spare…I must SAVE. I hate saving. I despise saving. I never save money. That needs to change. And it must never intrude on my character again, or else my family could be in trouble one day.

Really, it’s not all that hard. It’s just another step. Another transition. I enjoy change, and look forward to the upcoming switch in lifestyles. It will become much faster-paced, and much busier. I must remember to make time for God…because He would stop time for me. And after God is set in His rightful place in my life, everything else orders itself. I’m trusting Him with my life, and His will for it, and for me. Who else would I trust? Myself?

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To me, “growing up” means having responsibilities out your ears, setting an example wherever you are, “acting your age”, being a leader, walking in Christ as a wise person (not exactly well-informed, neither!)

And then on top of it all, we need to accept fate, expect action, pile ourselves with projects, and pretend like getting paid is enough to satisfy us. Yeah right.

I don’t think I’ll grow up. I’d rather stay a little kid.

Now to go further is essential, of course. I SHOULD be responsible…but I shouldn’t take myself too seriously. I SHOULD be wise, but not big-headed. I SHOULD be a God-follower, walking in His path and following Him wherever He may lead me…but I don’t think I’ll pursue a relationship with God where I know everything…or else I’d be God. I’d rather be younger, thank you.

And stop telling me to act my age. Just ‘cuz I’m older shouldn’t make me a lousy old fogey with no sense of humor. I hate those grown-ups.

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