"Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not life bring understanding?" Job 12:12)

Tom Brady, 43 years old, brings with him plenty of experience. He has experience in terms of years played, but he also has experience in terms of Super Bowl experience (10 including this year) and wins (6 so far). He was the one steady in Belichick's (head coach of New England) roster until this year, and his absence saw New England go 7 - 9. He was new to Tampa Bay's roster this year with head coach Bruce Arians. Early on, Tampa Bay and Brady struggled, and Arians response was to criticize Brady publicly at press conferences. Brady never replied or defended himself, and clearly Brady worked through it, taking Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl and Arians to his first as head coach.

Arians should have counted the rings on Brady's fingers and compared them to the rings on his fingers before he spoke. New offense and new formation with only one familiar face, Rob Gronkowski (former New England tight end), were to blame for the sluggish start. People at first blamed Brady's age (like 260 years in dog's age), but he overcame that. Now, there is really one big reason for the trip to the Super Bowl - Tom Brady.

Brady brings skill, poise and wisdom to the game. What could beat Patrick Mahome? Not the head coach. Kansas City wins in that category. Not Patrick Mahomes' lack of skill, poise and ability to execute. The only thing that could beat Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes is Tom Brady. Brady has pulled off upsets before, including a comeback against Seattle that I turned off and went to bed on, only to wake up and read the sports' headline on ESPN the next morning saying, "Tom Brady, MVP." He can lead a slow drive and keep Mahomes off the field. He can put just enough points on the board to win. Defense may be able to slow Mahomes, but offense keeps the clock running and the other offense off the field. To it all, Brady brings the biggest factor: Wisdom.

In a culture that is focused on youth, we tend to forget the wisdom around us in terms of people who've been there, done that. Maybe I should say it this way, in a culture that worships youth, we tend to ignore the wisdom that is around us. I used to correct the phrase in education, "We believe the children are our future" with this, "No, we are their future." But we hear it all the time in terms of lives centering on children with youth activities, even in the church. In fact, in our zeal to make sure our children don't miss out, we even forsake church for youth activities. Youth has been the biggest factor listed in the call in our own congregation with the current and previous pastor.

I love children. Have two of my own. Said the same thing when they were teens - need a youth group that is vibrant and active. Yet when scripture speaks to wisdom, as it often does, it never centers on the wisdom of youth. Job speaks to that. Scripture, however, goes further on wisdom and is not compromising on the definition: "To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understand obtain guidance, and to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:1-7)

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. We are here to guide the youth and provide knowledge and discretion. Powerful words from Solomon, who himself asked for wisdom when God would have given him anything. We pray for knowledge and discernment as we seek to learn and gain wisdom. We ask that we pass that wisdom on to the next generation and the generation after that. We pray that we appreciate the wisdom from those in our midst with experience who exhibit wisdom and understanding.