Home / Wisdom of the Elders

Apr

08

Life’s Toughest Questions

Posted by : Doug | On : April 8, 2009

Category: Life's Toughest Questions, Real Life, Real Faith, Uncategorized, Wisdom of the Elders

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I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve sat on the floor with teenagers and adults just like you and heard from you some EXTREMELY TOUGH QUESTIONS.

Questions about life, relationships, faith and your purpose for even being here.

I’ve sat and listened to dozens who were both angry and disappointed with the answers they did find or could not seem to find to their very tough questions. Just in the last few weeks, I’ve heard from three different teachers that they had a list of questions from high school teens.

Questions that are really, really tough.

I know you have questions.  So we want to provide you with an opportunity to both ask your questions AND possibly have your question podcasted here at Into the Wilderness. We want to take the next month to assemble a list of questions and then, one by one, we are going to team up with some incredible people to do our best to offer you the answers that we can.

In the boxes below, give us your name, e-mail and your question.  We’ll update the progress of the list and show you samples of the questions.  Please, as you do this, be completely honest about the questions.  No question is too tough.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

P.S.  After you submit your question, you will receive a confirmation e-mail in your mailbox.  There will be a link to click on to confirm your question, just as a safeguard against spam for you and us.  Please click on this link.  Your question will not be submitted unless you complete this step!  Thanks!

- Doug

Mar

31

The Wisdom of Someone Who Has Walked the Earth Longer Than You or I

Posted by : Doug | On : March 31, 2009

Category: Wisdom of the Elders

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In April, a fine youthful woman named Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday.. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older.

I can only pray that this wisdom comes to me through the decades AND that I can share it as well as she has.

Maya Angelou said this:

‘I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.’

‘I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.’

‘I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.’

‘I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life’

‘I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.’

‘I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back..’

‘I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.’

‘I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.’

‘I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.’

‘I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.’

‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’

Find an Elder in your life. Spend some time sitting at their feet and listening. Ask them questions. Ask them what was the best time of their life. Ask them what the hardest times were. Just ask them about themselves and be open for the lessons they have for you.

In hope,

Doug

Mar

26

85 Year Old Priest Knows What It Takes To Raise Kids

Posted by : Doug | On : March 26, 2009

Category: Reflections of a Dad, Reflections of a Husband, The Long Road of Parenting, Wisdom of the Elders

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Every once in awhile, I meet someone who is well into their senior years.  And within a few seconds, it becomes very apparent that they are an Elder not just older.  Can you relate?

I had the honor of visiting with a true Elder today.  His name (as I know him) is Father Jean Paul.  He is an 85 year old missionary priest.

Pause.  Note:  We have completely lost the value of the word “missionary”. A true missionary is on a mission.  This involves a quest.  Danger.  Allies and enemies.  Search and rescue.  Difficulty.  Returning home.  A real mission!  This describes the man I got to know today.  He lived with and fought for the hearts of the people of the deep north.  He remembers traveling from village to village by dog sled, across the tundra.  He prayed, with nothing but faith, at the bedside of his dying people.  He saw life birthed from harshness.  He lived true community.  A true missionary.

He asked me questions with a sharpness of mind that belied his aging body.  As I shared with him my family and the ages of my kids, he grinned.  I paused and waited for him to speak.  (Hint – In the presence of an Elder, spend about 80% of your time listening.  15% asking questions and 5% remembering what they said.)

In his pause he said,

“When you are raising boys you need this…” and he raised his fists in an honorable stance, like an old style French boxer. “Power.”

“To raise girls, you need this…” and he lifted a bony finger and tapped his temple.  “Understanding.”

Oh, what it is to sit at the feet of a man who willing shares his years of wisdom.  Seek it out.  And listen carefully.

I’ve been thinking of you often.  Stay awake!

Blessings.

Doug

Mar

11

We Are Available

Posted by : Doug | On : March 11, 2009

Category: God Through the Seasons, In the Life of a Teenager, Just Wanted to Say..., Keep the Body Temple Clean, Life's Toughest Questions, Living Alive, Living an Epic Life, Real Life, Real Faith, Reflections of a Dad, Reflections of a Husband, Reflections of a Mother, Reflections of a Warrior, Reflections of a Wife, The Legendsong Chronicles, The Long Road of Parenting, Walking with God, Wild and Free, Wisdom of the Elders

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Good morning! Oh my Lord. There is SO much in my little ol’ pea brain right now! Right now, I wanted to share with you that if your group, company, church or other organization is in need of some renewal, focus, vision or bonding, Judy and I are available for a very limited number of speaking and facilitation engagements in the next year!

We want to hear from you and see if there is a place we can serve you and your mission. From one hour consultations to three day retreats.

Please contact us and book early!

We can cover any number of topics. Have a look around the blog and you’ll get an idea of our vision and mission.

E-mail me at intothewilderness@gmail.com.

Looking forward!

Doug and Judy

Mar

07

First Impressions – The Old and the Weak

Posted by : Doug | On : March 7, 2009

Category: Wisdom of the Elders

Even as I type this, I’m sitting watching the next Survivor series.  Survivor : Brazil.  Number 18.  I’ve watched virtually every season.  Yeah, I’m a bit of a geek that way.  I skipped last season.  I honestly don’t watch much TV.  But, just for grins ‘n giggles, I tuned into this season’s opener

Kinda predictable beginning.  Tribes take rickety old truck/boat/plane deep into hot/deadly/wet landscape.  They’re not allowed to talk.  They are already in their two tribes.  Host gives directions to grab gear/run/swim/work together.  The tribes get off the truck with gear and the host tells them that they are now about to vote their first tribe member out, based exclusively on a silent four hour drive and a 30 second challenge.

All the tribe members had to go on was visible first impressions and about 3o seconds of “teamwork”.

And the results spoke volumes.  The one tribe had an older lady (55 or so) and the other tribe had a twenty-something young gal who was running a 102F fever.  It was virtually unanimous.  The “old” and the “sick” had to go.

The thing the fascinates me about this show is the microcosm of contemporary society that is created.  We have, by and large, left behind or “voted out” our elderly, exiled to seniors homes.  Why, in the most desperate time of their lives, do we even consider ending the lives of our sick and weak?

“I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.”

- John 10:10

The message sent is clear.  Not just the strong and the beautiful.  Not just the intelligent and confident.  Not even just the righteous or even the Christians.  When Jesus says “they”, he means the entire human race.  His desire for the all of humanity is life!

For whom would you cast your vote?

- Doug