THE POWER OF SHARED WISDOM

 If we fail to explain, they will not understand the weight of their reaction and the value of our actions.

– Ojo Adewale Iyanda

These days, I find myself explaining the reasons behind actions and reactions to many, especially the younger ones. I’m not trying to wear the cloak of a sage or pretend to be a psychologist. Rather, I’m beginning to see it as essential because we live in a generation that asks intelligent questions, doesn’t settle for "no" as an answer, and might even become rebellious if you try to dismiss them.

We need to break away from the status quo. We may have to let go of mindsets formed by how we were raised. Consider the teacher who beats their students because they were beaten as children. They haven’t healed from the hurt of the past and continue to bleed into another’s present. We shouldn’t treat others the way we were treated. We should treat others the right way.

I don’t want to be caught in the web of unanswered questions and pregnant silence again. It’s a place of torture I never want to revisit. This experience is one we’ve all had to endure. From childhood to adulthood, we’re often caught in a web of unexplained actions. Even as adults, we still find ourselves there, but we’ve learned to explain away things we don’t fully understand.

It’s not a fair trade to leave children and teenagers to figure out why they should do what they’re asked to do without any explanation. I know they won’t understand all the reasons—none of us truly do. But if we provide them with background knowledge, understanding will eventually come. The goal is to pass on valuable lessons.

We shouldn’t leave our children, younger ones, loved ones, or trusted followers to read between the lines. They already have enough to deal with. Life hands us all question papers to solve. Lecturers, the economy, employers, and more leave us scrambling to figure things out. Just because we have to figure out the tiniest things ourselves doesn’t mean others should.

Sometimes, I notice confusion about why:

1. They have to believe in Jesus and live in a certain way
2. They should go to church and have a pastor
3. They need to submit their choices to their pastor
4. They must honor their parents
5. They should respect the elderly even when it feels undeserved
6. They can’t start a relationship at a certain age
7. They should behave in a particular way

The list goes on—from casual daily conversations to more tailored, important discussions. We must do everything in our power to help others see why we do what we do or why they are doing what they are doing, in a way that makes sense to them. By doing so, we save people from frustration through the hindsight we provide and empower them to do better, because they now have valid reasons for their actions. This is the power of shared wisdom.

We all need answers. And we all must provide answers. Giving answers captures the essence of passing on valuable lessons. It sparks a generational transfer of wisdom. This is one of the reasons I love Kenneth Hagin’s books. He provides detailed answers to so many pressing questions. 

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