Out Our Way: Along the Covenant Trail with Goliath

Out our way, the young sometimes have to learn things the hard way. Young Snowball was a frisky colt that ignored aunt Babe's warning about fences. Babe might run full tilt toward the paddock when the hay was being tossed in, but she slowed down and stopped before she hit the barbed wire. I don't recall seeing cuts and scars on her, so she must have learned from her elders about fences. But poor Snowball, like many other reckless youths, ignored her example, disdained her caution and charged full bore into the fence. It was not a pretty sight and ultimately a fatal one for a foolish colt.

In many societies and cultures it was recognized that folks who lived a long life might well have learned a few things worth listening to. Nearly every tribe and clan had its elders - the old ones whose life experience was considered well worth listening to. But in every culture and tribe there have been those young and impetuous ones who think their youth makes them invulnerable and superior in wisdom as well as energy. They "know better" than those old fogies. Too often they make a name for themselves - but in the obituary columns instead of the headlines.

As far back as Socrates and Plato - and likely much farther back than that - there are record lamentations of youth refusing to heed warnings, ignoring the wisdom of their elders, and often mocking and scorning it as well.

In the fifth commandment is a call for respect an honor for our parents, and also a promise: that in doing so we are promised a better life, for in so doing "our days will be long in the land our God, the Lord has given us." Like the Sabbath - and indeed all the commandments - this is given for the benefit of the individual and also for the community. The command to honor and respect the elderly is specifically given twice more in Exodus (Exodus 21:15-17) and again in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 27:16). Clearly God takes this very seriously, for the command is not merely for the sake of the aged, but for the sake of society itself.

Most of us have heard the famous line, "those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it." And that is one reason why, at least until recently, the study of history was considered essential in education. Professors and teachers more interested in social agendas than in true education do our youth a great disservice by ignoring the realities of the past. For those who have studied human history see the same errors and cultural failings in the demise of the historic cultures of the past. The rise and fall of great civilizations bear a very marked resemblance to each other.

One common factor is the disdain and ignorance of the past. "New times call for new ways" is the call of the lemmings as they rush off the cliffs into the sea to drown. All movement is not progress. One cannot go up a mountain by sliding down the slope. A car going east on Highway 2 is moving forward - but if the goal is to get to Idaho, it is not progress.

Who among us old codgers hasn't had to learn such simple lessons the hard way - finding ourselves in Glendive instead of Kalispell, so to speak - because we would not ask or accept the advice of those who had been on the road before us?

I will freely admit I need the advice of young people when it comes to modern technology. Indeed I am an old dinosaur and a relic of the "ancient past." At Walmart we point out that while the electronic devices are so simple a 6-year-old can work it, the 6-year-old is not included. But even so, in the primary things in life, human beings haven't changed very much since the beginning. Some things are good and some are not - and what destroyed the ancient cultures over time is still wearing away at the fabric of our own.

There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11). What? Because it was noted 3,000 years ago it can no longer be true? Because it is ancient it is out of date? That 10,000 years ago people knew better than to walk off a cliff makes gravity old-fashioned and invalid?

There is wisdom to be gained from those who have gone before, wisdom for the individual and for society posted provided we are willing to listen and consider. The book of Proverbs contends that many a grey head is crowned in glory because they did listen when they were young and survived (Proverbs 16:31).

Honor thy parents that it may go well for you. Goliath and Babe and Cowboy all slowed down and stopped when the approached the barbed wire fence and are with us to this day. Snowball ignored their caution and rejected their example - and is no more.

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Brother John and Goliath serve at First Presbyterian Church in Havre. Their book "Our Our Way: Theology Under Saddle" is available at Amazon.com.