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It Takes a Lifetime
According to legend, Pablo Picasso was once asked to draw a picture on a napkin and promised payment for his impromptu art. Picasso whipped out a pen and quickly sketched a woman's head and shoulders. He then handed his creation to the man who made the offer and said, “One million dollars, please.”
“A million dollars?” the guy exclaimed. “That only took you thirty seconds!”
“Yes,” said Picasso. “But it took me fifty years to learn how to draw that in thirty seconds.”
Whether the story is accurate or not, there is a lot of truth to the statement. It takes a lifetime to learn some things; especially when it comes to wisdom and values.
Pablo Picasso was born in Spain. His father was a painter and a professor of art, and he taught his son from a very young age. Eventually, others recognized his genius. Today, Picasso is one of the more popular icons in art. In 1932, he painted "Green Leaves and Bust." It was part of a collection owned by Mrs. Sidney F. Brody which sold for $104,482, 500 in 2010 at an auction at Christie's in New York City, making it the most expensive painting ever sold at auction. (JustLuxe) He became a master, but it took him a lifetime to get there.
This principle explains why we would be wise to listen to our elders. Some people actually learn from their mistakes. Listen just to see if maybe somebody's bumps and bruises produced a little wisdom. This wisdom is more valuable than one might imagine.
This lesson has been hard-learned throughout world history. For example, the third king of Israel was Solomon. He was considered the wisest man who had ever lived and his kingdom was incredibly prosperous. When he died, his son assumed the throne, but instead of taking the kingdom forward on the advice of his father's counsellors, he chose to listen to the young bucks. He tanked; an all-too-familiar pattern.
Not everyone who is older is wiser, but so many of our elders have more to offer than we might suspect. If you are in need of advice, find someone whose life exhibits goodness and see what they have to say. Seek counsel in places like the Bible, where God, the ultimate elder, shares His wisdom. Such insights are treasures; after all, it took them a lifetime to come to those conclusions.
Bishop John W. Hanson
Pastor of Acts II Ministries
Thompson, Connecticut
Author’s Note: Recommended prayer materials include prayer clinic manuals found digitally at Amazon.com. These also are available at www.ActsII.org and PPH, and as ibooks. These include Passageways of Prayer, The God Connection DVD and 11 Prayer Leader manuals that include 108 lessons (prayer clinics) for small groups, classes, and prayer meetings.
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