Second Hand Lion
The movie Second Hand Lions is a tale about two old guys who have lived a life of adventure but no one knows it because they have been gone for decades. Mystery shrouds their lives and all their relatives are guessing as to who and what they are. The two gentlemen feel like “second hand lions”: used up and of no general use any more to society, so they have decided to just “fade away.” However a young nephew gets deposited on their doorstep and slowly they begin to realize they DO have something to impart and the adventure begins again as the young man learns who these two really were and ARE.
This blog is perhaps my expression of lessons learned in my life. I pray that those who are in the autumn of their years make take hope and not believe that they are “second hand lions.” Those of us who have lived over 50 years have much to give and those in their early years have much to learn.
Here is my favorite quote from the movie…. Uncle Hub confronts a group of young “roughneck” teenagers who treat him rudely and disrespectfully as he eats his ribs at the local diner….
I’m Hub McCann. I’ve fought in two World Wars and countless smaller ones on three continents. I led thousands of men into battle with everything from horses and swords to artillery and tanks. I’ve seen the headwaters of the Nile, and tribes of natives no white man had ever seen before. I’ve won and lost a dozen fortunes, KILLED MANY MEN and loved only one woman with a passion a FLEA like you could never begin to understand. That’s who I am. NOW, GO HOME, BOY!
Then as the group of teenage hoods attempt to “teach him a lesson” with their knives, he promptly beats them up. He then takes them home with him, feeds them, and gives them a mentoring speech he gives to all young men. They go home changed….
May the old men of this life, those with true wisdom, begin to teach those who follow after. There is much to be learned from Perspective and experience that can save young men from the mistakes and errors we have made….
Good post, very encouraging. It never ceases to amaze me how much one can accomplish in their lifetime. It seems like every other time I talk to my dad I learn something new about his life and experiences. I hope I can have that same impact on my kids.
Anyway, I hope you keep posting because it was a joy to read!
It’s a pleasure to learn from you Old Man
I am hoping to save myself some scars by learning from you, my Dad, and others.
Keep fighting the good fight and don’t let the punks get you down.
This is a great start for your blog! You’ve inspired me to place a hold on a library copy of Secondhand Lions. Russell and I will enjoy that. Also, Robert Duvall is a good actor.
My dad shared some things recently with me about his hard life as a young man and it gave me an newfound admiration for him. I told him and thanked him for his dedication to his family, though he’s a very unassuming man who does what has to be done.
Russell and I have a few friends in their late 60’s/early 70’s, and some younger in their 50’s
who have helped us with Perspective. These are Rested-in-the-Lord brothers and sisters who have weathered the storms and shared great spiritual victories the hard way. They are an encouragement to me.
I am proud of you Papa! I think it is awesome that you are going to start blogging and sharing your years of wisdom and experience. Looking forward to it!
Great job, Daddy! Very captivating and “attention-holding”. Love you!
For quite some time, I have been feeling a part of a lost generation. There was the “greatest generation”, of whom my father is a member. He grew up during the Great Depression, joined the Army Air Corps at 17 (lied about his age), was a B-24 bomber pilot in WWII, and had flown 21 bombing missions over Germany by his 21st birthday. He went on to have a long and illustrious career as an Air Force officer.
Now we have the newest generation, who are not content with the low expectations of the culture, but who crave and who do “hard things”, and are making the world a better place, in ways small and large. In the middle, we have the “baby boomers”, who have specialized in being pains in the neck most of their lives. They are selfish and demanding, materialistic and shallow.
I think that I, personally, have things the Lord has taught me over the years, especially because I came to the Lord in my mid-20’s, and wisdom won in spiritual battles since I became a Christian a quarter of a century ago. I think I know things that can benefit the younger ones coming up, but I struggle with being a part of a generation that essentially threw away all their potential in a quest for self-gratification.
I am looking forward to reading your blog and admonitions to young men as an encouragement to me in interacting and relating to the young women the Lord brings into my life.
Hi Marliss,
So good to hear your thoughts. Remember that your future determines your present, not so much your past. Also, you have experienced much in your life so you have much to give. I love Psalm 37, it’s like the aged David sitting in the old rocking chair on the front porch and saying to a young buck, don’t worry, it will all end up all right; I know because I have already walked your steps. M, You have perspective, all the young ones have is hope and expectation (and sometimes slim at that), but these are full of unknowns. You can fill them in on some of the unknowns because you have been there before. This is very helpful to those looking up to you. You have more than you know. In fact your failures are the some of the best wisdom you can give….
Love ya,
Chris
Good for people to know.
Leave your response!
Recent Posts
Archives
Bible Version
Blogs of Friends
Recent Comments
Most Commented