Statue of impending greatness

The statue didn't look like anyone famous I knew. In this historic city of Winchester there were buildings dating from Revolution times. Some streets were named for civil war heroes. Who was this young man depicted in metal, his head cocked confidently as he gazed out on a world he had yet to really know?

I went close to read the plaque. It was George Washington at age 16, as a new surveyor. Had that been all George ultimately accomplished, it is doubtful even a small gentle Southern town like Winchester would have erected a statue of him. But I found it touching that the town chose to memorialize him prior to his greatest accomplishments.

He was cast in stone at a time when his hopes and dreams were yet forming, when his ideals were likely still intact and he was confident he could tackle whatever life threw at him. At least if he was like most 16 year olds.

I thought of my son Matt, not many years past teenagerhood starting off next week to his law internship for the summer and to a new marriage a few weeks later. Sometimes the most wondrous moment of life is standing perched on the brink of engaging it. The whole world stretches before you and there is nothing you cannot grasp.

I also know that most of us will step off the precipice and find life not to be what we expected. I think God did us a favor in not connecting all our neurons to the frontal lobe of our brains til well into our 20s. Otherwise, who would dare stride forward into the maelstrom of life?

I gazed at the statue of George. Later that evening I sent my son some verses that I felt tugging at my heart.

Be still and know that I am God.

And

The Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.

Go forth bravely, perhaps even blindly, but keep your hand on God 's shoulder.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8