Once again we must look at the wounds a man takes, even in this final stage; for no one, not even the Sage with all of his wisdom, is immune from wounds. And at the same time we must be intentional about developing the heart of the Sage throughout our lives. Again, everything along this journey is leading us to this point. All of the lessons and experiences of this journey culminate in the Sage, and it is from these that he offers wisdom and guidance to others. If we desire to finish well, we must be intentional about developing the heart of the Sage.
"The heart of a Sage goes undeveloped when a man has been a fool for most of his life, either in the form of a refusal to take the journey, or a refusal to take note of the journey he has taken. That man made something other maturity his aim - success, usually meaning pleasure, or safety, meaning the path of least resistance. This is the man who spends his golden years walking his dog or golfing. The fool may have seen many winters, but they do not seem to have had any other effect on him beyond fatigue, or perhaps cynicism. Scripture describes a fool as a man who will not submit to wisdom, a man who refuses to be taught by all that life has to teach him."
It should come as no surprise that if we aren't intentional about the masculine journey, or remain ignorant to it, then when we come to the end we'll be incomplete. It isn't that we won't have things to offer, but it won't be all that it could be. And quite often I believe that they won't be offered with compassion. An undeveloped Sage is frustrated, harsh, and cynical. I would also add selfish to the list. Life is now about them being able to take it easy, and letting the rest of the world figure it out for themselves. Retirement is lived just as the rest of life was. What is in this for me, and how can I make my life easier and more comfortable?
"Sadly, there are many aged fools, as anyone who has spent time in Congress, or the university, or in the bowels of religious bureaucracies knows. Gray hair does not a Sage make. No doubt you have experienced that by now." If we don't wish to join them, then we had better be intentional about this journey while we have the chance. Let us not neglect everything the Father is trying teach us and develop in us. There have been many who haven't fallen here. Many men have taken the journey, but I think part of the reason that initiation has been lost over the last few generations is because we haven't listened to the wisdom of our Sages.
"The heart of the Sage is wounded when he is dismissed as a has been, too old to have anything to offer." How many Sages have tried to offer wisdom over the years and been ignored because the youth have seen them as irrelevant and out dated? How much wisdom has been lost because we have reused to soak it up when it has been freely offered? How many Sages have we wounded with our arrogance and ignorance?
"We need more men around who have lived through yesterday, seen it, and eve if they haven't conquered it, they have learned from it. Young Warriors will sometimes dismiss the older men in their lives because those men no longer year for battle, or simply because they don't come from 'my generation.'" Now let me say something that has come to mind. Not every idea the older generation has is wise and useful. Those who live in the past, and want everything to go back to the way it was are those who haven't taken the journey. They do great damage and prevent a lot of good work from happening because it's different. That isn't what a Sage does. A Sage is wise enough to know that things change over time, and he is there to offer his guidance and lessons learned to young Warriors fighting the same battle in a new way.
It is crucial that the Warriors remember that the Sage has done his part in fighting, and now offers what he is able to, to those who are strong enough to carry the sword into combat. And we must also remember that the Sage may see a way around battle. He's learned that war is a terrible thing, and should be avoided at all costs. If there is a way for diplomacy, he will look for it, and try to resolve it that way. But he also knows that we live in a world of war and that some battles are unavoidable. He offers his wisdom on how to fight. It is crucial that we listen so that we don't needlessly waste time and resources.
"Insecure Kings often dismiss the older men around them, send them into early retirement, threatened because the older men know more than they do. And our culture in the progressive West has dismissed the elderly for years now, because we have worshiped adolescence. Our hears are the young and handsome... We've worshiped adolescences because we don't want to grow up, don't want to pay the price of maturity. That is why we have a world now of uninitiated men. Thus the heart of the Sage is wounded when he is dismissed, or sent into exile, or Scottsdale, which is pretty much the same. No one seems to want what he has to offer, and he comes to believe after a time that it is because he has nothing to offer."
If we would live the journey this wouldn't happen. Kings would not be insecure, and they would know that the Sage no longer desires to rule. The King would gladly accept his guidance, and his help, in initiating others in the kingdom. We must realize that growing older is inevitable, and that with age comes the opportunity for great wisdom. We must stop placing burdens on young shoulders, not ready to bear them, and instead look to the wise and mature for guidance. And we must never make the arrogant mistake of dismissing the wisdom of the Sage. They have so much to offer, but we must be humble enough to realize and accept it. For if we continue to push them away, we will continue in the downward spiral we have fallen into.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
No comments:
Post a Comment