Youth are known for their energy and strength, while the old offer sagely wisdom. But, of course, we know those wise beyond their years and many old fools. Strength and wisdom go deeper than age.
To be sure, it’s often easier to tap into youthful vitality when we’re young and aged wisdom the older we get. But these are flip sides of the same coin that we must learn to steward throughout life.
Youthful strength
The young are brimming with life and creative potential. All the world is before them. And they charge full speed ahead with seemingly nothing to loose.
Courage and passion are flowing through their veins and they can offer their life seed time and again without fail.
Regardless of our age we need this youthful spirit – bringing more life and goodness into the world throughout every season. Naturally, this looks very different across the lifespan, but this inner vitality remains.
Aged wisdom
The old have experienced life and have a way of seeing things as they really are. There’s nothing to prove and they can humbly ponder the mysteries of life without fear.
They’ve experienced deep pain and profound joy, death and new life and have grown quite comfortable with the many paradoxes of life.
Here again, regardless of age, we need this spirit of wisdom – wisely discerning the movements of our day and what God might be up to in our life.
It’s true age helps in this regard. But wisdom is ultimately a gift of God we have free access to at any point.
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When society prizes youth it’s easy to overlook the need for aged wisdom. But it’s also easy to dismiss the continued need for youthful vitality as our body gets older.
In the end, we need both.
Cultivate and honor both your creative energy and deep wisdom throughout your life.
