The Wisdom of Time

Leadership

As I recall the story, Brother Hardwick, the founding pastor of Christ Church in Nashville, was in an interview with a rather contentious host. The host, having well prepared his arguments, would attempt to contradict or challenge the wise pastor at every turn in the conversation. Graciously playing along with his host's antics for a little while, he finally interrupted and put an end to the nonsense by saying, "Listen...all I can say is... a man with experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument. I have experience, and you have an argument."

English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote: "If men could learn from history, what lessons it might teach us. But passion and party blind our eyes, and the light which experience gives us is a lantern on the stern, which shines only on the waves behind us."

The passion and party of our lives will thrust us into the dark and troubled waters that rage ahead of us if we fail to examine the light of our's and others' experiences that float in the wake behind us.

"The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods. Wisdom belongs to the aged and understanding to the old. But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his." (Job 12:11-13)

A key component of our Core Conviction of Be the Expert is finding mentors to help guide us along paths that are new to us but well-traveled by others. It's far better to learn from people who have already had the experience. Do you really want to rediscover that a hot stove will burn your hand?

It's also critical to review the film of your own performance. Reviewing your actions, decisions, and subsequent results will reveal learnings that are uniquely yours. These learnings, if properly applied, will lead to growth, improvement, and enhanced future results.

Be sure to test the words you hear. There are a lot of convincing arguments tossed around that are complete hogwash because they lack the wisdom of time, experience, and the light that comes only from God.

A man with experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.

Go gain some experience (or find someone who has) before recklessly engaging in an argument.