The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-02-26
SernOnette
"The Three Stages of Life"

The Three Stages of Life"
Within three days We shall pass
over this Jordan.-Jos. 1:11.
When the wall of women and
the cries of mourning men had
died away over the distant noun
tains of Moab. the voice of the
new leader is heard resounding
throughout the camps saying: pre-
pare We victuals for within three
days We shall pass over this Jor-
dan"
The similarity between the desig-
mated days for crossing the Jordan
and the three recognized stages of
human life is so strikingly ana
lagous as to submit to a ready and
interesting application.
Three days were designated as
the time limit. within three DAYS
We shall pass over this Jordan.
Youth represents the first day
Some one in his wise moments said:
ITO be young is very heaven" No
one can overestimate the import
ance of this period. Not only is
ii important in the proper develop
ment for the future but il is also
period of supernal happiness and
unbounded joy. To stand and gaze
down life's long avenues and real
ize the immensely of prospective
possibilities is both thrilling and
inspiring. To look out upon an
uneharted sea of budding oppor-
tunities and visualize no limits but
the expanding horizon, to look up
and recognize no obstruction but
the vaulted skies, thrills the very
Imagination and sets the active
soul on fire. Youth is the period
of dreams, of imagery, of the foun-
dalton and formation of ideals, and
the conception and estimation OF
standards and detectives. The sky
is serenely clear; the heavens are
matchlessly blue and the birds are
singing everywhere. 1t is spring
time OF life and the heart IL light
and glad.
This is the day or activity. The
spring time of life has passed and
the summer has come with its
scorching suns and lingering days.
Man goes forth to the field OF con-
flict and conquest to labor in the
light of his wisdom and to pursue
the dreams of his youth. He
reaches out into the alluring fields
of discovery and invention and
satisfies his longing for adventure
and accomplishment. In the days
of old the brilliant Knight rode
forth with shining armour and gilt
tering spear to protect the helpless
w In N lyN
his mate and builds home for
those he loves and prides himself
on his mastery over nature and
the elements. For manhood there
Is no fear. He is confident In his
power and powerful in his conf
dence. He shoulders the RESPONSE
bility of the world and reckons
with the march and progress of the
human mind. He stands next to
God in the power to produce and
to make possible. for he is made
little less cIian divine. He matches
his wit and his power with the
elements and struggles with an un-
compromising determination against
every opposition and restriction. He
knows no defeat. He believes that
all things are possible He rises
to the majesty of his manhood and
conquers by reason of his strength
This period is the climax of human
existence-the summer of life.
This is the winter of life and
the evening of manhood. The sun
OF life is fast running its course
and the shadows of evening are be-
ginning to fall across the pathway
of the weary pilgrim. The way
worn traveller is hitting the sunset
trail and the lonely trek to etern-
ity is on. The form is bent and
feeble. the eye has lost its lustre
and the limb its strength, while
his courage and ambition are only
in memory. The third day is on
and the pilgrim is approaching the
Jordan. His sleep is fitful and
restless. His dreams cluster around
The past and he mutters to himself
of days long gone. He has visions
of loved ones from the mystic shores
who come to cheer and comfort as
the shadows lengthen and the dark
ness deepens. The sun has gone
down. The darkness has come and
the weary one tired with the bur-
dens of life crosses the river and
seeks rest where time runs into
eternity and youth remains forever
Thus is life.