[RePost] Never Grow Up

Three Timeless Behaviors We Can Learn From Children

Last week, I had the extreme pleasure of returning once again to the Big Apple. Several colleagues and I spent a celebratory day on Broadway, attending the 2:00pm performance of Finding Neverland at the The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Aside from Jane Lynch sitting two rows in front of us, the most memorable moment for me in this 135-minute production came in Act 2 when lead actor Matthew Morrison exclaimed,

Young boys should never be sent to bed. They always wake up a day older.

                                                 -J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

I immediately thought of our two young sons and all the shenanigans they immerse themselves in daily. I thought of how Denise and I, with good intentions, sometimes stifle their fun and send them to bed with good intentions- so they can “grow up.” But why? What’s the hurry? The faster they grow up, the older we’ll become, and the quicker their innocence will flee and their enthusiastic fascination grow dim. Why are we in such a hurry for the children of the world to grow up? I believe it’s because at some point in life, we were told to grow up.

And we did.

Aside from the occasional work conversation, our train ride home that night was quiet. My mind wandered and wondered-

What have I lost? What do my boys know about life that I have forgotten? What can we learn from the children in our lives?

After several days of studying our sons with this new appreciation, a family trip to Cape Henlopen concluded our weekend. On the beach that day, I concluded there are three behaviors that I hope I (and you) never outgrow.

1. Be fearless when trying new things. I watched timidly as the brothers bounded for the cool Atlantic waves. They entered the water without hesitation at anything other than a chill on their toes. There were no thoughts of Mary Lee or any other sea creatures. Neither child cautiously scanned the current for rip tides. They trusted that Dad and Mom were watching out for their best interest. You and I can have freedom from fear when we trust that our Heavenly Father is by our side, watching out for us as we dip our toes into new waters.

2. Ask questions, especially WHY. Dad, where do waves come from? Mom, why do I need sunscreen? Will the crabs bite? I patiently (mostly) answered questions like these all day, and I was amazed by how many inquiries came our way! Children are filled with wonder. I’m convinced our oldest’s favorite word is “Why.” Remember that it’s still okay to ask questions and never stop learning, even in your “old age.” Most importantly, get to the heart of your passions, feelings, ideas and conflicts with the question, WHY?

3. Play hard. It goes without saying that we fill our schedules with meetings, church activities, volunteer boards, errands, and other important tasks. These tasks create a buildup of positive and negative stress. Playing helps relieve the stress, thereby refreshing our creativity, renewing our focus and restoring the drive to accomplish more. Playing also builds stronger relationships. It can be a round of golf with your boss, Pinochle with a sibling, or I Spy with the kids on the way to the beach. (Who knew there were so many green objects out there?) Find a way to play this week. Besides all the benefits, it’s just plain fun!

In J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, Neverland is a magical place where boys (and girls) never grow old and “won’t grow up.” I argue that growing old, maturing in intellect, and acting your age doesn’t mean you have to grow up. So be fearless, ask questions and play hard. Never grow up.

Never Grow Up by Nathan A. Claycomb first appeared on From Where I Sit on July 18, 2015.