Before We Learn to Live

An ancient philosopher offered this interesting observation: “If we could be twice young and twice old, we could correct all our mistakes.”¹ there is no real assurance that this is so, because too many of us repeat our mistakes, and sometimes we wonder why we have to live so long before we learn how to live. There are many things we wish we had learned sooner instead of later in life. There are many mistakes and misunderstandings: mistakes of judgment, bad beginnings, and false steps, lost time. There are quarrels, prejudice, unwise actions, and unwise words. And then sometimes, somewhere along the way we learn somehow to misjudge less, to understand more; to be more charitable, with less friction, less resentment, with less disposition to condemn. Somewhere, sometime, somehow we are likely to acquire more patience and understanding. But still some things we wish we had learned sooner instead of later in life.

Of course, some do learn sooner. Some seem to mellow and mature in judgment and wisdom and understanding earlier than others. But many of us live a long time before we seem to learn some of the simple things that could have make life easier and finer for us and for our families. But to live—and to learn—this, no doubt, is one of life’s principal purposes. We can’t go back—not any of us, not at any time. But with an immortal future before us, we can go forward with the assurance that nothing we have really learned is ever lost. “If we could be twice young and twice old” could we correct all our mistakes? It isn’t likely. And anyway that isn’t the way life is lived. But somewhere along the everlasting journey we shall learn that the groping, the wondering, the trying and failing, and trying again, will prove to be worth all the effort—and the future will justify our faith.