Silly old wisdom

Lent 1 – Year A

A poem by A. A. Milne

The End
When I was One,
I had just begun.
When I was Two,
I was nearly new.
When I was Three
I was hardly me.
When I was Four,
I was not much more.
When I was Five, I was just alive.
But now I am Six, I'm as clever as clever,
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.

Not only is there a kid in me, but a very specific 6-year-old child who is oh so very clever. This cleverness will find a way to get or justify any and every want. Herein lies my tempter – idolator of now and forever – and it is so hard to argue with a 6-year-old.

In theory I should be many times wiser than my clever child, but somehow clever trumps wisdom all too often. Silly old wisdom.