There is a moment in every person's life when they realize that they must grow up. That moment is different for each individual but I believe it is necessary. There is a time to act as a child and there is a time to grow up. When people do not face the fact that they cannot act as children any longer, they become the people who cannot deal with their own concerns. Someone else is always at fault and someone else must handle their problems. This does not make for a well-rounded adult or citizen. This is what Athene refuses to let Telemachos become. Athene boldly tells Telemachos, "You should not go on clinging to your childhood. You are no longer of an age to do that" (line 296-7). Athene says this to him because she knows there is greatness in him. She sees what he can become if he chooses to accept his responsibility as an adult. Those words are not easy to hear and they are most likely difficult for Telemachos to hear, but because Athene tells him while she is in the form of his friend Mentes, Telemachos listens. Because he listens to Athene, he has the courage to confront the suitors during the assembly and to depart on the journey to gather news about his father.
Sometimes I think we all need that one friend to be bold enough to speak the truth in love to us. What friends say might be hard to hear and we might be defensive at first, but most of the time we become defensive because what they say is true. Sometimes friends know us better than we even know ourselves and sometimes they see the potential we have even when we cannot.
P.S.- Posted on Danielle's blog.
What? No more Neverland?? Lauren! ...I'm just kidding. You make a very good point, and I agree that this is Telemachos's wake up moment. Everyone does need that friend who is willing to call them out -even if they don't care to hear it at the time. In the end it will benefit one to take counsel from friends- especially if they are older or wiser... or gods. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think this idea holds even more significance for us as college students. Whether we intend to or not, when we arrive at college we begin growing up faster than we have ever before. Still, this process is a tough pill to swallow a lot of the time. That is exactly why we need other people in our lives to tell us the things we don't want to hear but need to nonetheless. I think Neverland will always be fun though...
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