Older and wiser

Everybody and everything that doesn’t die gets older. Can’t stop it. But that isn’t always the case with the “wiser”.

I was doing an interview with a veteran hunter the other day and one of his main tips about getting to see bigger bucks was to be patient, spend time to learn where they live, and learn to understand how they think. Big bucks are cautious, don’t do things on the spur of the moment and guard against making mistakes. In other words, bucks don’t get to be older and have bigger racks by being dumb or careless. They get pretty smart, often to the point of not even coming out during the daylight hours. They learn to hide in small, out of the way places where hunters probably go pretty close by, but never see them.

In life, we are supposed to get older AND wiser, like the trophy deer. And that wisdom should teach us to be cautious about our actions, not just for show, but in everything we do, all the time. For those who trust in God and study his word, wisdom and understanding become gifts that help us through our daily lives. It should lead us to do good things and treat others kindly, but also be firm if they are not on the right path. If we follow God’s word and be gentle in our actions and attitudes as he commands, we can be “trophies” for his kingdom.

“Are there those among you who are truly wise and understanding? Show it by living right and doing good things with a gentleness that comes from wisdom”  — James 3:13