Extracting Wisdom From the Old

It seems that American culture prefers the young to old. A flip around the television stations reveals this is true, and almost every commercial seems to trend toward the young.

What is more old people constantly try to look younger and often act younger than they are.

Parents try to do this too, they try to act younger by listening to their kids music, and wearing the latest clothes.

The tendency of adults to rip-off kids styles I think is what has led to alot of the more extreme clothing and music trends of the last five years. Kids are basically saying .. "Try and copy this!" by listening to and wearing things they think their parents will stay away from. Even If my theory isn't all correct, you can't deny, everyone loves being young in America.

So this article from Australia's Herald Sun caught my attention.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL Michael Jeffery has urged people to spend less time idolising youthful celebrities and look to the elderly for wisdom.

Major-General Jeffery, who retires this year, recommended in an interview published today that Australians put substance ahead of glamour.

"We have had too much of an emphasis on celebrity and that tends to be younger (people),'' he told News Limited.

"I think there is a lot of the glitz and the hero worship of so-called glamour as against substance, and that impacts on the respect for older people.

"I don't think we spend enough time extracting the wisdom of older people.''

Hmmm ... extracting wisdom from older people. Cool idea. How often do we actually spend time with people older than ourselves with this goal in mind? Wisdom is often learned from the pain and success of past experiences.

Why repeat or experience pain if we can learn from the pain of someone else?

Try extracting some wisdom from an old person today by asking for their advice or opinion on a matter that is important to you. Also, simply asking them what lessons they have learned that might benefit you, could help you think about some things you never thought of before.

Before Jade and I were married we asked couples who had been married over 30+ years for advice. And we asked in airports, parks, grocery stores, wherever! People were happy to share and we learned a ton!

Proverbs 20:29
The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.

Now go extract some wisdom while you have strength.