We Didn't Get This Old Being Fools

I remember in every new vocational journey in my life, there was always someone who had advice for me.  When I was younger, I thought I didn’t advice from that “old guy” what could he know?  And why would he just throw out advice like I don’t know what I am doing? 

As I later would discover, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.  Those guys just wanted to see me succeed and not make the same mistakes they did.  They weren’t being arrogant or smug, they were being kind and loving.  As time went on I found out most of the time, if I had followed their advice things would have been better.

 

Whether it was construction, radio or ministry, there was always someone willing to help me out with some advice.  And whether I wanted it or not, I appreciated it.  Whether I followed it or not, I was humbled by it.  One day, a man I admired a great deal told me to listen more and I would learn more.

That’s when I started really talking to and listening to people older than me.  That was 25 years ago.  I am one of those “old guys” now, but I still find it fascinating to talk to the generation or two beyond me.  As my Pa Rube always said, “You don’t get to be old being a fool.”  These older ladies and gentlemen have a plethora of knowledge and they would love to share it.

One of my favorite activities up until recently was sitting and listening to guys like Doc Shuff, Jack Fultz, Harold Holbrook, Dick Vincent and many others talk about sports in this area.  I learned so much from those guys.  I learned things from them I would never had known otherwise.  And I never left any of those guys without a word of encouragement and/or a word of advice.

  

So this “old guy” has a word of advice for you young whipper snappers.  I don’t know everything, but I do know this….no matter how much you think we are out of touch with the world, there is still a few things to be learned from us “old people.”