At the gym, we run in place on a treadmill, or ride in place on an exercise bike.  This is a great way to exercise.  Unfortunately, many people spend much of there adult life running in place.
    When we are young, we are constantly learning new things and growing physically, mentally and hopefully, spiritually.  But when we become adults most of us settle into a career (or job) and just continuously doing the same things over and over like riding the exercise bike but going nowhere. 
    The older we get, the easier and more comfortable it becomes to just do the things we already know how to do and avoid learning anything new.  It is true that it is harder to learn new things when you get older, but medical research has shown that it is worth the effort.  Not only does learning new things help you stay useful in a changing world, it also can prevent, or at least slow down, the mental deterioration most people suffer from as they get old.
    On the spiritual side, we are in the End Times and that requires that we start looking at religion and spirituality in new ways.  Just sitting at a religious service once a week isn't enough. We have to actively participate in our spiritual development and the spiritual awakening of the world or be left behind.