"Preoccupation with the self has always seemed to me unhealthy." ~ Eric HofferOne of the blessings of childhood is its simplicity. We are not encumbered by all the cares and complications of the larger world around us. Our responsibilities are limited to being home for supper or by bedtime. At least, in this country such was my lot. (I realize in other war ravaged areas, such is not always the good fortune of the young.)
Becoming older means becoming more conscious of the wider world, and more aware of the needs of others. Maturity, growing up, is directly tied to responsibility.
In my experience, some facets of religion can derail one from this road to maturity. There are certain schools of thought, in Christianity, where the emphasis on personal holiness is such that it utterly paralyzes earnest seekers of God. Instead of being angry about an injustice, for example, they might focus instead on how wrong they were to be angry.
The preoccupation with self leads them to a withdrawal from the world, instead of engagement.
This is not to say we are to ignore being self-aware. But to live in this world means to dialogue with it, to participate in it, and to make a contribution toward making it a better place. We're not children any more. Let's go out and make a difference.
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