The story of the Magi, or the three wise men, is my favourite part of the holiday season. Imagine a group dedicated enough to finding hope in the dark that they would travel to foreign lands in search of a promised saviour. The elders in our lives offer similar inspiration.
The Magi famously followed a great star to find the baby Jesus. When the mysterious astrologers finally found the Christ child, they bestowed him with gold, frankincense and myrrh. Their willingness to give their finest things — along with time and energy — to a faraway baby can still teach us something today.
In the Magi’s generosity, we see a deep commitment to seeking out the sacred.
Although it’s easy to take their presence for granted, elders in our families, neighbourhoods, organizations and churches embody a similar wisdom. Nearly one in five Canadians is over age 65. The population of those 85 and older has doubled in the last two decades and will likely triple in the two decades after that. The pandemic revealed alarming vital gaps in health care and long-term care systems. What is at risk if we are unable to care for our aging and beloved teachers and guides?
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I know first-hand how important wisdom carriers are. After I became close to my 83-year-old neighbour two years ago, she helped me through a difficult divinity degree. When I felt anxious about beginning a third year in a stressful environment, she encouraged me to enjoy myself and release some pressure. She reminded me that I could trust and lean on community, and she was right. When things started to feel overwhelming in that third year, I remembered her perspective and embraced a greater sense of ease.
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After that, it was clear to me: our elders’ long experience moving through life’s joys and hurdles gives them perspective on what truly matters and what we might let go. Countering the world’s frenzy, they often prioritize connection within ourselves and with each other. As many of us move through other phases of life, wrestling with making a living in fast-paced, extractive conditions while grappling with political turmoil and war around the world, we are slow to recognize the wisdom of elders among us. We are waiting in the dark for light to arrive, yet we fail to notice those pointing toward the sacred.
Just like the star that steered the Magi toward the infant Christ, wisdom carriers around us point us to a way of life that cultivates slowing down and reaching out in the name of love. As we learn from their example, we must ask how we are honouring our elders with policies that support their health, wellness and longevity. This season is the perfect time to seek wisdom together and learn to protect those who embody it.
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Lauren Maxwell studies theology and restorative practice in New Haven, Conn.
This story first appeared in Broadview’s December 2024 issue with the title “Honouring Our Modern Magi.”
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