“Last scene of all…Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.”  AS YOU LIKE IT, Shakespeare

Every life stage is composed of its own specific pattern,

In infancy, we demand,

We scream,

We cry,

As toddlers, the screaming becomes louder,

Demanding more,

Exploration,

Discover,

Our teen years explode with hormones,

Unleashing grown up passions,

Not yet ready to act upon,

The screams are there,

For different reasons,

You move into adulthood,

Securing your future,

Praying for success,

Driving,

Pushing,

Using every ounce of energy to make it,

To succeed,

To climb the ladder,

To make a difference,

The screams become internal,

Often hidden from others,

Yet still alive,

Middle age carries us into the beginning of aging,

You reach the pinnacle of your life,

You are at the peak,

Success may or may not have touched you,

You look forward to time with family,

Friends,

Hobbies,

Your family is growing too,

They leave the nest,

Your life is transitioning,

From youthful exuberance,

To lonely days,

Your joy turns to sadness,

You have too much time to wallow in the thick of it,

Those internal screams have become,

Weakened,

Tired,

Quieter,

Yet they exist in the recesses of your heart,

You become old,

The bridge leads to your end,

To the finality of life,

To death,

The screams persist,

You fight them,

You grow anxious for heaven,

Your body changes,

No teeth,

Thinning hair,

Body weakness,

Lack of energy,

Lack of everything,

Except for the hope of heaven,

That final destination,

Without tears,

Without aging,

Without pain,

A place where we become new again,

And stay young forever,

Your screams turn into praise,

AMEN!