Wisdom and Understanding

"Yes, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice." ~Yoda

Yoda is a central character in the Star Wars series.  We are first introduced to him in 1980 as a backwards creature in a swamp world that Luke stumbles upon.  Little did Luke know he was talking to the great Jedi Master that trained so many Jedi in his years.  He had disregarded him until he finally recognized him for who he is.  

Have you ever met someone and quickly formed an opinion of them (maybe based on age or appearance)?  When you took the time to get to know them personally, did your opinion change? I had the good fortune to meet and get to know several individuals like this.  I love finding out the hidden wisdom in each of these individuals' experiences.  There is so much we can learn from those who walk before us.  Why is it that I didn't pay attention to their lessons they shared when I was young?  Why is it now, in my middle years that I recognize and value their thoughts and feelings?

I have been going through the gospels and reading about the different people Jesus interacted with.  I am struck by the words of Simeon and Anna when they encountered the child Jesus in the Temple.  Both were aging, but still had the hope you see in children.  Both were so excited to meet the Messiah, whom they had waited all their lives.  What wisdom they had, if only the religious leaders had taken the time to listen!

Let's take a few minutes to sit down with the generation(s) before us.  We might be surprised at the lessons we can learn from their experiences.

"Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old." (Job 12:12 NLT)