Be a Champion

You are to rise in the presence of the elderly and honor the old. Fear your God; I am the LORD. - Leviticus 19:32

At 65+, I realize that I am in the final quarter of my earthly existence. At a recent board meeting, I looked around the room and it hit me that I was the oldest person in attendance! I don't happen to see it as a negative. One of the reasons I like professional golf is that they don't have an "old man's" tour. It is called the "CHAMPIONS" Tour.

I'm not old. I'm a Champion!

Yeah, whatever. One thing is true. Because I have been around a while, I have had a few more experiences and, therefore, should earn a little more respect, right? In Africa, they truly respect their elders, even if the person does not deserve it. Certainly, I deserve, at least, a little, right? RIGHT? Well, maybe.

God commanded the Israelites to "rise in the presence of the elderly and honor the old," because it indicated reverence for their LORD. Other passages in the Bible indicate that we should all live lives that are worthy of respect. So, here is my conclusion: If you are in the category of "elderly," then you should live a respectful life and if you are not, then you should respect others (whether they deserve it or not). God is honored by both, the respected and the respectful. That is what it truly means to be a champion.

Age is a very high price to pay for maturity. - Tom Stoppard