Sir David Attenborough, a 93-year-old man, made an unexpected appearance on the last day of the Glastonbury Festival in 2019. This was an event that many artists hoped, prayed, and worked hard to attend. David Attenborough, who was not even an artist but an environmentalist and television presenter, was invited to make a speech at the event. His speech was greeted by a huge uproar and rapturous applause, especially from the young audience.
The ovation that his speech commanded was not primarily because of the weight of his speech but because he made it to the festival at that age. The crowd was wowed that a 93-year-old made it to Glastonbury, and that was history made.
The old and grey are considered a symbol of maturity and a mark of wisdom and distinction. From the days of the bible, old age holds a crown of splendour often associated with experience, intelligence, and insight (Proverbs 20:29). In Jewish tradition, if an elderly person enters a room, everyone stands, an honour that is accorded to their age and wisdom.
Unfortunately, such an honour for the old is rapidly fading light. The days of leaning on the wisdom of the old and learning from them is now history. The days when society relied on the old and grey to pass on first-hand knowledge and experience because it is believed that they have passed through some paths in life and have gained experience and mastery. The days when people beckon on the old, listen to their counsel, follow their instructions, learn their lessons, heed their advice, and learn from their mistakes. We are in the ‘woke’ generation where the young barely recognize the old and see them as equals. Grey hair no longer holds significance, and things are gradually falling apart.
Wisdom and insight do not belong to us by nature. There’s a treasure in them that comes with embracing maturity through ageing. Unfortunately, it is looking like this generation is losing hold of this fact, thereby lacking in wisdom and insight. They are less susceptible to the wealth of knowledge and experience of the grey. Thus, they have failed to learn gracious manners, wisdom, and good conduct as it used to be. The practice of godliness, respect, diligence, responsibility, and maturity as a whole is taking a different shape. Wisdom and insight have been substituted with passion, lust of the flesh, and desire to look perfect.
This great lack of wisdom amongst children and the youth nowadays is evident in various homes, in schools, in churches, and society. Records of juvenile antics and preposterous stories of misdemeanour by children and youths show that without the wisdom of grey, the young steer the future blindly.
Emphasizing on the beauty in grey, in Titus 2:3-5, Paul encouraged the old women to teach the young women what is good and how to take care of their husbands and children, so that the word of God may not be reviled. May we not depart from the teachings and lessons of those who have seen life before us, and may we always seek their counsel and be submissive to them. Amen.
The future is based on the past, and only the grey who have lived it and experienced it have the treasure of wisdom to share it. No wonder children who are raised by old people exhibit so much wisdom and are easily distinguished with good character.
To every child and young adult, how many greyheads are you close to? Do you honour them, and what have you learned from them?
✍️ Amara Ann Unachukwu.
