“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” (Job 12:12)

I was talking to an elderly gentleman from my church the other day. He talked about his life and the things he had done. He is 83 years old and in the twilight of his life. Then he made this statement, “You know, you become invisible when you get older. It’s like you’re not even there anymore to most people.” I think he was saying that when you reach a certain age, you lose your relevance in the world because you become irrelevant to society. You become a shriveled peach that is not as tasty-looking as it once was. Well, I thought about that for a while, and even at my age, there is something to his pronouncement. As a young married man, I recall an older man telling me, “When you get older, you have all the answers, but no one asks!” We both chuckled, but his facial expression betrayed his hurt.

It was not too distant when the ‘Elders’ were held in high esteem; you could go and get advice and sage wisdom from men and women who have danced the dance, walked the walk, and paid the price with their sweat and grit. I know that when I needed sound advice, I went to my Father and Mother and older men and women who I knew had sound counsel for me on how to travel the road of life and navigate the troubled waters that lay before me. I’m grateful they were there. I didn’t always follow every bit of counsel I received, but in retrospect, their wisdom helped me through some tough times.

It is good to learn from those who have gone before us. It is wise to seek counsel from those we respect and honor. Their eyes may be dim, and their step may be slowed, but often, their minds and spirits are sharp, and there are great pearls of wisdom to be found in their words. My father once counseled me never to forget the ‘horses that had plowed the fields before me’ and my forefathers’ blood, sweat, and tears. “Treat them kindly and with respect! If only you knew.” I surmised that he meant ‘if only I knew’ what they had been through.

I hope I don’t become invisible to my family, friends, and neighbors as I continue aging. Of all the superheroes to choose from throughout my life, one I would never choose to be is “The Invisible Man!” And I’m pretty sure no one else would either!