Honoring The Elders

Every generation sees more than the generation before it. The Mature King respects those who came before him and sees them in their true light. With humility, he knows that the reason he can see further is because he stands on their shoulders.

He resists and transforms the arrogance of youth and steps into mature appreciation of his ancestors' struggles and sacrifices. He wrestles with the legacy of their missteps and shortsightedness as he accepts with grace the gifts of their vision and sacrifice.

The King resists toxic narratives that paint his elders as evil, misinformed, and oppressive. He also resists naive narratives that idealize and deify them. With clear eyes, he examines the past. He honors and continues what is honorable, and transforms what was deluded or misguided.

The King continues the work of his ancestors. He derives his dignity from understanding and honoring his roots. He takes on the pain, suffering, and ignorance of his elders as work that is yet unfinished—an inheritance of life that is now his burden to continue.

The King does not take on the sins of his fathers and mothers. They are their sins, and he was born innocent. He does not atone for them. He protects himself from narratives that ascribe guilt to him for what others did. He does not take on his fathers' debts as he was born debt free.

By the same measure, he must make his own contribution to the world. He never takes credit for his ancestors' accomplishments. He uses them to inspire his own merit and service.

Claim all who came before as your ancestors. Do not think yourself below or above them. Study their stories but do not borrow pride or shame from them. Honor their pain by feeling everything and staying awake. Accept their ignorance by committing to live with your eyes wide open.

When you honor your elders, you gain access to their hard-won wisdom without having to repeat their mistakes. You inherit a treasury of experience that would take lifetimes to accumulate on your own. This is the gift that flows to those who approach their ancestors with gratitude rather than judgment.