The wisdom we must not lose
Ageism begins when we see a person’s age and stop looking for what that person might offer. Gray hair becomes a reason to dismiss someone. A slower answer gets mistaken for a poorer mind. Younger people can miss valuable counsel simply because they never think to ask an older person for it.
Picture an elderly man walking slowly up a hill. His steps are stiff, and he pauses to catch his breath. Someone passing sees a man struggling to walk. What remains unseen is the library walking inside him: years of raising children, earning a living, burying loved ones, making mistakes, and learning what truly matters.
That library deserves a visit. An older believer may have learned how to remain faithful through disappointment, repair a damaged relationship, or trust God when an answer did not come. Those lessons deserve more than a passing greeting. They deserve questions and time to listen.
Growing older brings limitations. Getting out of certain chairs becomes a project requiring both planning and commitment. The humor helps, but aching joints and losing independence can be hard to accept. Being treated as though we have nothing left to contribute makes those difficulties harder.
Paul writes, “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16.
Writing about suffering and endurance, Paul points toward renewal that physical decline cannot measure. Someone who needs help climbing steps may still help another person take a step toward Christ.
The psalmist prays, “And even when I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.” Psalm 71:18.
He asks for God’s sustaining presence so he can tell another generation about God’s power. He still has something to give.
Age alone does not make someone wise. Years can deepen bitterness as well as understanding. Good counsel grows where experience meets humility, Scripture, and a willingness to learn. Older people must remain teachable, too. Listening between generations should leave room for both to grow.
“They will still yield fruit in advanced age; They will be full of sap and very green,” Psalm 92:14. The psalm pictures the righteous as flourishing trees. Their fruitfulness continues into old age. For an older believer, that may include prayer, encouragement, testimony, and patient guidance. Reduced physical strength does not erase spiritual influence.
Younger readers, seek out an older person whose life shows faithfulness. Ask what hardship taught them, what they would do differently, and what helped them keep trusting God. Older readers, share without demanding agreement. Listen carefully, speak honestly, and make room for questions. Do not assume that having less strength means having nothing useful to say.
It is sad when generations live beside each other yet leave so much unshared. Our bodies grow older, but God can keep working in us and through us. Wisdom becomes an enduring gift when someone takes time to share it and someone else takes time to listen.
To contact Dean or share your own thoughts, email othersideofamen@gmail.com. You can read more at theothersideofamen.com.