I am sure St Paul was not talking or thinking about such mundane signs of maturity nor would he waste words on stating the biological facts of aging. The words follow his wonderful description of the nature of love (first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13); he is talking of spiritual development and its central feature of love – of God and humankind. He is looking to its fulfillment - eternal life with our God "..face to face.."

His words are not simply an observation that as we get older, we will deepen our love of God passively, by experience. It is true that our understanding of love changes as we age. We begin to grasp the enormity of love, its gifts and implications.

There is, though, an immediate practical relevance to his words that is worth pondering. Does love demand that we seek to know and understand better the object of our love? Is it conceivable that you can love someone you don't know?

I have considered this thought more than I care to admit. I am shaken to discover how immature are my knowledge and understanding of my religious belief. I realise that, despite so many opportunities to mature spiritually, I am still prone "..to think as a child.." I still tend to be content with that comfortable, simplistic view of Jesus and His teaching that I had learned in infancy.
Is it any wonder that, armed mainly with the wisdom of my Primary school, I become confused in the moral maze of adulthood?
Ron Mulroy St Peter & St Paul's Wakefield
Churches Together have a new and better website: www.churches-together-wakefield.org.uk

Pilgrim's Progress is edited by Nick Shields