Past


For tens of thousands of years, in human societies all over the earth, elder sages played very special roles, including:


  1. ‣  Mentors and Initiators of the young

  2. ‣  Spiritual leaders

  3. ‣  Political advisors, with special emphasis on the welfare of future generations.


An excellent example of this on the North American continent is found in the Iroquois Confederation.  In those tribes, a prominent role of the elders was and is to ensure that tribal deliberations always consider the impact of decisions on the seventh generation to come.



Industrial Societies


As the industrial revolution spread around the globe, the role of elders was greatly diminished as societies shifted their focus to rapid change.  The vigor of youth, and new ideas became central values, and elders came to be seen as irrelevant, over-the-hill, even as obstacles to progress.

The Impact of a Diminished Role for Elders


Each of us will come to our own conclusions about how contemporary society – indeed our entire planet – has been affected by the greatly diminished role of elders.


Here are a couple of our conclusions:


  1. ‣  In America, as a nation and as a society, we don’t pay our own way.  Rather, we consume, and create debt to be paid by coming generations.  Our national debt now (May 12, 2008) stands at over $ 9 TRILLION. The estimated population of the United States is 303,981,042 so each citizen's share of this debt is $30,827.65.  The National Debt has continued to increase an average of $1.6 billion per day since September 28, 2007!  And that does not include debt in the form of failure to maintain our infrastructure,  fund Social Security and Medicare for the future, fund public and private pensions, etc.


  1. ‣  We are altering the Earth we depend on for our lives in ways which will create huge problems for coming generations.  According to predominant scientific opinion, we are all too rapidly approaching the point at which environmental damage will become irreversible.


Vision of a Modern Elder


  1. •    Has holistic world view: Sees our planet as an organism; all life as interdependent.

  2. •    Sees each individual as unique and valuable

  3. •    Outward and future-oriented: primarily concerned with others & future generations;

           leaving a legacy; preserving our eco-systems

  1. •    Lives in the moment

  2. •    Life long learner

  3. •    Humility

  4. •    Authenticity

  5. •    Gratitude

  6. •    Love & Compassion

  7. •    Bearer / Teacher / Creator of Tradition

  8. •    Courage

  9. •    Expects and Welcomes Change

  10. •    Hospitality

  11. This vision developed by the participants in our Seminar at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis;



So, the voices of elder sages, serving as teachers, advisors, and defenders of future generations are desperately needed.  Answering that call is our choice.  Our grandchildren and their children, and generations to follow, will judge how we responded.

The Role of Elders

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