Original: October 9, 2007
The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old. Proverbs 20:29
I recently added Bob Segar’s song, "Like a Rock" to my Ipod. There is something about listening to the words that brings tears to a middle-aged man’s eyes. Check this out!
“Stood there boldly, sweatin’ in the sun. Felt like a million, felt like number one at height of summer, I’d never felt that strong, like a rock. I was eighteen, didn’t have a care workin’ for peanuts, not a dime to spare, but I was lean ‘n, solid everywhere. Like a rock. My hands were steady. My eyes were clear and bright. My walk had purpose, my steps were quick and light. And I held firm, to what I felt was right, like a rock. I was strong as I could be, like a rock. Nothin’ ever got to me, like a rock. I was somethin’ to see, like a rock. And I stood arrow straight unencumbered by the weight of all these hustlers and their schemes. I stood proud I stood tall high above it all. I still believed in my dream.”
When I was a young man, fresh out of my college football career I would judge my hunting success on how far I walked, and whether or not I took an animal. Every year for several years I would walk far and work hard for a small trophy. After several years of successfully taking average sized animals I met a man name Fred Muff, or Uncle Fred as I called him. Fred was much older, slower, and by looking at his middle-aged belly it was obvious who was in better shape and obviously the more proficient hunter.
His garage rafters however told a different story. Rafters filled with antlers never lie. Fred’s rafters were filled with the enormous racks of bucks he had taken. It seemed like season after season he continued to take beautiful bucks while I continued to work much harder for much smaller animals. Frustrated, I got up the humility, which is not the easiest thing in the world for a twenty-three year old kid, to ask him his secret.
His answer shocked me and changed my strategy forever, "I go into an area in the dark then sit and glass (look through my binoculars) until I find a good buck. I let my eyes do the walking." His answer was wise. His answer was blunt. His answer made the difference.
Like Proverbs 20:29, at twenty-three my glory and praise was in my youth, strength, and ability to out work most men. Although this usually resulted in success it was never a success on the level I had longed for. Uncle Fred, on the other hand, had passed on to me an invaluable secret. His gray hair taught me that working smarter is more effective than working harder. His age taught me that with experience comes wisdom and true success. I was fortunate as a young man to learn the hunting secrets of an older man. Fred taught me an important, no catalytic lesson about my life.
We all need Paul’s to mentor us.
We all need Timothy’s to mentor.
Proverbs 20:29 teaches men that, "the honor of old men is their gray hair." I learned through Fred and others that age can be a great teacher. I was able to honor Fred by gleaning from his age and experience so I did not have to continue in the mediocrity I had become so accustomed to. Fred taught me a lesson that placed me literally decades ahead of most hunters my age. By listening to him, questioning him, and now pointing to him whenever I succeed I bring "honor" to his "gray hair."
As I sit here I think of all the older men that have impacted my life: My Dad, Grandpa Ramos, Howard Hendrickson, Gordon Gibson, and Bill Osborne to name just a few.
My dad taught me how to stay engaged with your kids through life and the love of the outdoors. Howard taught me prior to my marriage to diffuse arguments with the phrase "You may be right honey!" Gordon taught me the value of tradition, holiness, and the pride of being a "Nazarene." My grandpa taught me the value of the local church, hard work, and finishing strong. Bill is teaching me the value of rigorous volunteer ministry after retirement. Several of these men are gone now but their lives live on through me as I follow their example.
Who are the "gray hairs" in your life that you can lean into their wisdom to strengthen you, so that you may in turn, point to them in "honor?"
