Wisdom

With age comes experience and, yes, wisdom, and thankfully so. Wisdom is a hugely powerful invisible force extending far beyond knowledge.

Wisdom provides context for the application of knowledge. Without wisdom, we would be hard pressed as to how to use and apply our knowledge.

Because wisdom comes with age and experience, it provides us both an opportunity and a responsibility as we age. The opportunity is to provide advice and guidance as we are called upon by the next generation. This is an opportunity to make our mark in the coming generation. The concomitant responsibility is to do so in the right way, giving our advice as best we can, but also fully recognizing that the next generation are the decision-makers.

We also need to recognize that we are not the only sources of wisdom. Wisdom is to be found in the Bible and in the great books written over the centuries. Wisdom is to be found through studies of history. And wisdom is to be found in discussions with our fellow human beings.

Discussion

• What words of wisdom do you recall receiving from a parent or grandparent?

• What words of wisdom have you offered to your children and grandchildren?

• How have the words of wisdom extended beyond knowledge?