‘How Old Are You?’- Let’s Talk About The Age Question

Welcome to another episode on the blog. I’m excited to bring you this episode, as well as hear back from you through comments and perhaps email. The matter to be discussed is one thing I struggle with, but I know at the same time is no big deal due to the knowledge I’m about to share with you.

To start with, I would love to ask a few questions-

What does being on the earth mean?

How do human beings get on the earth?

Where do we go from here (the earth)?

What keeps us here?

This is like a class and we all would participate in answering all these questions. We’ll answer the individual ones (in our hearts), and the general ones are the ones we would discuss on the blog. Disclaimer- the answers would not come in the order which they were asked, and also- we are likely to be using the word ‘simply’ in multiple ways because for real, everything we would be discussing would be simple; so loosen up and judge not. (*smiles*).

So, to get to one of the questions- how do human beings get on the earth? Simply put- through birth. How do we go?- simply put again- through death. So, if we humans come and go by birth and death, who really are we, and what is our presence/appearance for? Besides, what is the earth and why are we in it?

I would start with the later question- what really is the earth? Simply put, I would say the earth is a time and space made for things that can be seen (such as humans), and enclosed by time. To every thing made to appear in this realm (the earth) is a time/life span given. The fact that everything on earth do not have the same lifespan do not mean they have no life span at all. All features no matter how gigantic, beautiful and ‘immortal’ they appear that dwells on this earth have their timeline in the earth. Those who do not ‘die’ before the earth fades would fade with the earth when the time comes for the earth itself to stop existing, which brings us to say that- even the earth itself, has its timeline/ lifespan.

So, if humans appear on the earth for a specific period of time before going again, vanishing like a snake crawling into the bush and can leave behind a mark behind depending on the path passed, how does age come in? Well, age is simply an indicator of how long we’ve been passing through/dwelling on the earth for (since in the end, we all are sojourners made to pass through the earth at different times and interval). Our ages are needed to number our days, so when exactly the time comes to exit the earth, there would be clear records with regards to number, about our existence. I guess this amounts to one of the reasons people we regard as seniors (old people) reveal their age with pride, to take glory/show how long they’ve been on the earth for, and probably how much experience and wisdom they have gained through their walk so far. It perhaps could amount to the same reason people coming up find it a bit hard to disclose their age, because compared to those they met on the earth (the seniors including those with significant years ahead), they have probably gained/achieved nothing yet, which on its own could appear intimidating especially when compared to the people they got to the earth almost at the same time (please click this article to read about comparison).

To know/say one’s age is to establish how long we individually have been on the earth for, knowing fully well that we all are (mortal) travelers passing through the earth to reach an immortal destination. In essence, age is like a metric system that makes records possible, as well as a factor that makes us apply our hearts to wisdom- young and old alike. In as much as I still might struggle with the age question a bit (perhaps out of culture or some other reasons), permit me to tell you that age is just a number (as we already know and all say) and shouldn’t be a big deal to say. So, when next someone asks you your age, he/she is just asking- ‘how long have you being on the earth for?’ and perhaps some mischievous ones, just like that of a countdown, may ask to have a rough estimate of how much more time you might still have left. Either way, age is just a metric system and should sometimes not be taken seriously, especially as serious as Africans (especially Nigerians?) take it. Don’t ask me yet though…lol, I’m still working on neutralizing the secret culture had told us it has to be, but then, like we both know now, it’s not a big deal, so let’s all try to adjust our minds towards the question and receive it with joy or little seriousness over time.  

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