Originally broadcast on CHED Radio, Edmonton, Alberta Canada in 1963

I sat at my typewriter recently hoping an idea would come for one of these short inspirational articles.  My eyes wandered and I noticed a small boy perched on a high board fence across the way.  He dangled his legs over the side of the fence as if to jump, then pulled them back again.  He sat a few moments, then again prepared to make the leap, and again retreated.  Finally he bit his lower lip, threw his legs over the side and down he plunged to the ground below.  He got up, brushed himself off and whistling happily, trotted off down the street.  He had met the challenge of the high fence and in spite of his fear had made the jump and one more obstacle to growing up was behind him.  You know childhood is a time of faith and energy.  Each challenge as it comes along is met and overcome.  But as we grow older we often lose ours zest for meeting and beating the things that stand in our way impeding our progress.  Instead of overcoming these obstacles, we move cautiously around them, avoiding them completely if we can.  This is unfortunate, for if life remains a challenge; if we have the heart and the zest for life we see in small children, then indeed we never ever really grow old.   Regardless of your years, youth is yours as long as you meet and regard each day as a delightful and rewarding experience.