Babies move from highchairs to booster seats when they can sit up on their own consistently. Theoretically, children progress from one grade level to the next when they have mastered the subject matter on that level. There always seems to be a new level to reach in some area of our lives. We go from crawling to walking, from walking to running, from training wheels to bike riding, from bike riding to driving, or from horseback riding to flying planes. Even our technology is constantly progressing so that what we use to do physically, our machines, computers, robots, and phones can do for us now at the command of our voices. While we have made amazing progress in the physical world, it seems that we are still in highchairs and booster seats in the emotional and spiritual areas of our lives.
When archeologists dig up the remains of past civilizations, they can see the evidence of their technological and physical progress. However, historians surmise that the fall of great civilizations had more to do with their inability to evolve spiritually, emotionally, and socially. I have looked at the world through sociological, philosophical, and religious eyes, and it seems clear to me that we have ignored knowledge and evidence from some of the greatest minds in history that would be of great value in bringing peace to our world and our lives.
In the highchair a baby starts by being fed by a parent and while there the baby learns to feed him or herself. In the booster seat the baby learns how to sit and eat independently with others until they can physically reach the table without assistance. Nurture, education, and religion are the highchairs and booster seats that should bring us to a place where we can live independently and interdependently with others. I believe it is time for us to progress beyond our highchairs and booster seats. This, however, may take discipline for which we are not accustomed or prepared.