Prov 12:1; Prov 2:1-15; 3:1-3; 4:1-2
Life’s Journey
Two teenagers, Tom and Grant, were traveling down the road of life and they came to a mountain range. There was no way around it; they had to go through the rough terrain to get where they were going in life. At the foot of this mountain range, there was an old man. This old man had an old road map in his hand. One of the teens, Grant, walked over to ask the old man for directions.
Old Map
The old man said, “Here son, take this road map, for it has served me well while traversing these rugged mountains. I have clearly marked the map of all the hazards and marked the path that although harder, will be safer. Now when you come to the….”
“Oh come on Grant… we don’t need that old man’s advice… I can lead us through with no problem,” exclaimed Tom.
“I see you’ve already been this way before,” said the old man to Tom.
“Well, no I haven’t, but I’m smart enough to make it through this mountain range without the advice of some old man like you. Taking your way is slow and boring, I plan on taking this mountain with all the gusto and adventure I can.”
“So you foresee no danger or hazard of death along this rugged terrain,” asked the old man. “You know, there have been a number of teenagers, like yourself, that have been seriously hurt, maimed, or killed because they took the wrong turn along these mountain paths,” he continued.
“So I suppose an old man like you with an old worn map can tell us the right way… besides what makes you the expert anyway,” Tom said with a snide attitude.
The Diploma of Hard Knocks
With that, the old man pulled up his left shirtsleeve to expose a nasty looking scar.
“What, a scar from stumbling as an old man?” Tom said mockingly.
Then the old man pulled up his left paints leg to reveal another nasty scar.
“Ok, so it was a big fall from tripping over your old age, what’s that got to do with making you an expert?” rebuffed Tom.
Then old man lifted up his shirt to mid chest and his left side was riddled with scars and indentations in his flesh where obviously, there had been tremendous trauma.
“Where did you get those scars?” said Grant with silent amazement.
A Story of Regret
“Many years ago,” stated the old man, “I was a teenager traveling this same road as you. It was at this very spot that I too met an old man such as myself today. He too offered me a road map that would show me the way to safely navigate through this rugged mountain terrain. However, I was arrogant and stupid and would not listen to his advice. My friend traveling with me wanted to heed the old man’s advice but I persuaded him otherwise. Reluctantly my friend followed me.”
“I had never been through this mountain range before so had not a clue of the dangers that awaited me. We came to a pass that was but a twelve-inch ledge against the face of the mountain to cross to the continuing path. I put my friend in front and coaxed him to go. Halfway through, the ledge gave way and he and I fell to the unknown below. I landed on a jagged ledge about 40 feet below. My friend however, continued another 200 feet to his death.
I closed my eyes, sure that death was near, for my body was twisted and racked in pain. A few hours later, I awoke by a fire and felt warm oil being poured into my wounds. I looked up to see the old man that had warned me at the bottom of the mountain. It took months for me to recover and then I continued on my journey, but this time with the old man’s map in hand. The map was true it did not lead me wrong, but warned of me all the dangers and plotted for me a safe path.”
“So my two young friends, a choice you must make. Press on, on your own and face the dangers unknown or take my map to guide you through to the other side. For I have been through this way before and wished I had listened to the old man before.”
What Would Be Your Choice?
So if you were Grant who would you listen to, a friend that has never trekked the path before or an old man that has been there and knows the dangers before you?
I told my daughter a similar story when she became a teenager. I asked her who would you listen to, your friend, who has never been that way before or the old man. She said the old man. I asked her why and she replied, “Because the old man has been there before and knows where all the danger is”.
Who is The Old Man?
I told her that in this story, I am the old man and she is the teenager who has never been that way before.
I said, “you’re going have some choices to make as you go through these teenage years, you can listen to the old man or you can listen to your friends. However, I can assure you that the old man has a few scars from not listening to his old man when he was going through his teenage years.”
“My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.” Prov 3:1 - 2 (NKJV)
© 2023 Jeff Scalf - All rights reserved
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