Hold Your Peace

The other day I found myself embroiled in a political argument with someone half my age. Although I appreciated the spirit in which the debate took place, I found myself thinking, "Whatever happened to young people listening to their elders?" Certainly that was an archaic thought because freedom of expression has been the hallmark of the post-World War II generation. This is not without reason since the youth of our day have more exposure to information on a wider plan than did their grandparents or parents. Most of the information that we get nowadays though is in the form of sound bites and captions. Unless we are willing to diligently research the sound bites we are hearing and the captions we are reading, we may find ourselves at a great disadvantage when discussing issues. Formulating views without digging into the issues for yourself will lead to shallow understanding and potential manipulation.

It is wise counsel for all of us to practice being swift to hear and slow to speak. Those who have many years behind them have experiences and knowledge that are still very valuable. The older one gets the better able he/she is to see the past and make assessment of it. History is still the best teacher if we will learn from its pages. I think this is what the Sage had in mind at the end of Proverbs 17. He says, "He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."

As I reflect upon these verses, I can see that though I may have knowledge and experience in a certain area, it is better to be invited to share than to interject without invitation. Just because a conversation or subject is being tossed about, that does not mean that I have to try to catch it. It may be better to let it drop. If I do get an invitation to interject, what is said should be to the point. The wise person will not be drawn into debates with those whose minds are already made up.