The Old/New Principle: How We Can Gain Wisdom From the Past and Present

As the summer season is coming to a close, along with the wedding season, I am reminded of the wedding rhyme that says, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe.” The ancient rhyme originated in England in the Victorian era and was meant to bring good luck to marriage. Although I’m not a big believer in luck, I think this is a fun tradition and one I partook in at my wedding ceremony many years ago.

Today, I’d like to look at the wisdom in the phrase “something old, something new.” In a culture that always draws our attention to what is new, there is wisdom in remembering and learning from the old. In the older generation, a wish for the old (the way things used to be) and a temptation to resist what is new often grows. The wisdom lies in living and learning from both the old and the new.

I have found that some of the most mature, vibrant, and growing Christians have been those that live out the wisdom of the old and the new. Below are some ways you can lean into this life habit which brings more learning, fulfillment, and understanding. Let us intentionally choose to learn and grow from those things and people who are new or young, as well as to learn from those things or people who are old.

“We are all made of stories.”

Areas to apply the old/new principle:

BOOKS: Famed author C.S. Lewis once said, “It is a good rule after reading a new book, never allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between.” I’ve never tried that, but I have also read that every 5th book should be old or a classic. Classic usually refers to a book 20 years or older, but it can also be a book or books that have been widely read in the past (not necessarily 20 years or more).

One area I have found to be very helpful is reading books that are not necessarily old but about people who lived long ago. Reading about those living in different periods, places, and cultures is instructive. In Christianity, it is life-giving and perspective-changing to read from the saints of old. When Hebrews chapter 12 talks about “being surrounded by so great a cloud of witness,” it refers to the Old Testament saints, and now over two thousand years later, can refer to those who have gone before us, 50, 100, or more years ago. 

Here are some books to help us live out the old/new principle:

That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea by Marc Randolph — Written by the co-founder and first CEO, this book goes back to the beginnings of Netflix in 1997. A good book for helping one understand the period in the tech world where start-up was an everyday word.

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics by Daniel James Brown — A great story that just in the telling of the story gives the reader a good understanding of life in America in the 30s and the events that would change the world forever. 

50 People Every Christian Should Know: Learning from Spiritual Giants of the Faith by Warren W Wiersbe — Inspiring stories 4-6 pages long on each of the 50 people. This is a great book to help pique your interest in reading about some old saints. Contains suggestions for further reading as well.

RELATIONSHIPS: Many years ago, I read in pastor/author Chip Ingram’s book Good to Great In God’s Eyes that it was important for Christians to be in a relationship with someone older and someone younger as well as with those in your age group. As I became and continue to be intentional about my relationships in this way, I have found this to be a model that I highly recommend. For me, someone older is around the same age as my mother or older, and someone younger is an adult who could be my daughter. I have gained so much wisdom and understanding from both groups of friends. This is a model where all parties learn and grow from each other's insights and life experiences. It’s also a model seen throughout the Bible. I like to imagine Mary and Elizabeth and how they both gained wisdom, courage, and encouragement from one another. 

BIBLE READING: Many Bible reading plans, whether daily or yearly, often include reading from the Old and New Testaments. Another fun study is to read the New Testament but find the Old Testament references as they arise. There are approximately 250 references from the Old Testament in the New. You can find various resources for the list of references on the internet.

This principle is also helpful for work, understanding and learning about our cultural context, and product development. 

My hope for you is that if you are a person who tends to seek the new that you will intentionally include the old, and if you are a person who desires primarily the old, you will intentionally also seek out the new. This deliberate shift can bring wisdom, understanding, and encouragement to your ordinary daily life.