No one else has lived our life. And the time and place given to us is all our own. But it’s a mistake to then assume we have nothing to learn from those who have gone before us. An enduring excellence has been passed down to us when we’re humble enough to learn.
To be sure, there’s no need to keep reinventing the wheel. But this axiom is true throughout our life and relationships. While our story is unique, there’s still a sense in which there’s nothing new under the sun. And this means there’s a lot we can learn from those who have navigated the complexities of life before us.
Certainly, the saints of old would fall into this camp – learning from Abraham how to step out of our comfort zone, from David how to face our giants, and from Daniel how to remain unwavering in our faith even in the face of persecution. But this might also include the bibliographies of countless other saints down through the generations.
Classical literature is another valuable resource. There’s a reason certain stories continue to be told in every generation. These stories hold a clue – some enduring truth, goodness, or beauty that’s worth preserving and passing on to others.
Of course, our own family history carries wisdom as well. These might help us to make sense of our various quirks and passions, and why certain values are stressed more than others. In any case, these stories can help us to feel less alone as we discover others like us who have wrestled with the ups and downs of life.
Whatever it looks like, it’s pride and arrogance that keeps us from considering the old paths and learning from those who have gone before us how to live well today.
In the end, while the particulars of your story remain unique to you, there’s wisdom in discovering the enduring excellence from all who have come before.
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