Law, College of
Date of this Version
2015
Citation
Journal of Christian Legal Thought, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 8-9
Abstract
One of the most rewarding things about growing old is the wisdom that comes with it. Individually, we may deny that as we grow older we automatically or necessarily become wiser. In fact most of us, if we are honest with ourselves, will deny this, but I'm convinced that this is merely humility. As we grow older, we become more aware of our foibles and the knowledge that everyone is flawed and falls short of the glory of God. This kind of self-awareness is the source of our humility: understood appropriately, it is also the source of our wisdom. Many of us who are called to teaching also find a deep concern and love for youth, which we express in the form of what I can only call caring nurturing. Teaching upcoming lawyers about the nature and nuance of our work is the way that wisdom is passed along from generation to generation. As corny as it sounds, it is the cycle of life; it is how the next generation builds upon the experience of the previous one and grows stronger, deeper, and more solid. This process helps us build upon the wisdom of the past to develop stronger, more competent lawyers.