<p>What is the difference? Young or old are relative terms. Young refers to age while to be youthful refers to attitudes. Someone could be older in years but could be youthful in attitude towards life and its problems. <br /><br />To be youthful is to be enthusiastic, to dare to be different, to try out new things, to go along unchartered ways, a desire to achieve something worthwhile in one’s life, to help others and to be ready even to lay down one’s life in a cause, the right of which one is convinced. We could add many more here but what matters is the readiness to change and not be an old stick in the mud. <br /><br />To be obscurantist is the bane of those who are old beyond their age who would not like to try out anything that is new and anything new would appear to such persons as fraught with hidden dangers and pitfalls. They prefer to keep to the path treaded by their forefathers and are afraid of taking risks. <br /><br />Someone like Christopher Columbus tried out something new and the result we know was the European discovery of the Americas.<br /><br />Yet the desire to do new things, discover new things, new ways of trying to find a solution to the problems that confront us is indeed to be encouraged. <br /><br />The youth should always be supported in this their venture but there is always the caution: we cannot forego the experience of the past and learn from the mistakes of the past. <br /><br />An example perhaps could illustrate this better. Drugs have been taken by many in the past. Their sad experiences have been well-documented. So how can I say that I will be able to control it; I only wish to try it out a little. <br /><br />Should I not be warned by the experience of others who are also human like me and have been or continue to be young men and women like me? <br /><br />But this does not mean that our enthusiasm is to be dampened by the do/don’t negative attitudes but it is to be only wary as we move with alacrity on the path of progress for oneself and others. <br /><br />Even older persons need to keep young heart by being always ready to change when change has to be made. Jesus too encouraged his listeners to change their attitude towards God. He wanted them to seek first the kingdom of God (i.e., give first place to God) in their lives and give up hatred and cultivate genuine love and care and concern for others.</p>
<p>What is the difference? Young or old are relative terms. Young refers to age while to be youthful refers to attitudes. Someone could be older in years but could be youthful in attitude towards life and its problems. <br /><br />To be youthful is to be enthusiastic, to dare to be different, to try out new things, to go along unchartered ways, a desire to achieve something worthwhile in one’s life, to help others and to be ready even to lay down one’s life in a cause, the right of which one is convinced. We could add many more here but what matters is the readiness to change and not be an old stick in the mud. <br /><br />To be obscurantist is the bane of those who are old beyond their age who would not like to try out anything that is new and anything new would appear to such persons as fraught with hidden dangers and pitfalls. They prefer to keep to the path treaded by their forefathers and are afraid of taking risks. <br /><br />Someone like Christopher Columbus tried out something new and the result we know was the European discovery of the Americas.<br /><br />Yet the desire to do new things, discover new things, new ways of trying to find a solution to the problems that confront us is indeed to be encouraged. <br /><br />The youth should always be supported in this their venture but there is always the caution: we cannot forego the experience of the past and learn from the mistakes of the past. <br /><br />An example perhaps could illustrate this better. Drugs have been taken by many in the past. Their sad experiences have been well-documented. So how can I say that I will be able to control it; I only wish to try it out a little. <br /><br />Should I not be warned by the experience of others who are also human like me and have been or continue to be young men and women like me? <br /><br />But this does not mean that our enthusiasm is to be dampened by the do/don’t negative attitudes but it is to be only wary as we move with alacrity on the path of progress for oneself and others. <br /><br />Even older persons need to keep young heart by being always ready to change when change has to be made. Jesus too encouraged his listeners to change their attitude towards God. He wanted them to seek first the kingdom of God (i.e., give first place to God) in their lives and give up hatred and cultivate genuine love and care and concern for others.</p>