Over the years, I’ve often been asked about the true role of an elder. To me, one of our most vital jobs is to shift from being the “hero” to becoming a ladder holder.
Younger generations are feverishly, reaching for the top of their careers, their art, their parenting, and their partnering. But these days, many of those ladders get incredibly shaky.
Sadly, many men and women climb with little or no support. I was lucky. When I mistakenly placed my ladders against the wrong walls, my elders steadied me as I climbed back down them or caught me when I fell off and helped me revise and reset.
Our job now as elders isn’t to climb higher; it’s to hold the ladder steady for someone else.
Who steadied the ladder for you? Whose ladder are you holding today?
“Be a lamp, a lifeboat, a ladder. Help someone’s soul to heal. Walk out of your house like a Shepherd.” Rumi
John, this speaks to something deeply missing in our world today. We once turned to elders, mentors, and wisdom holders to steady our ladders and help us find the right walls to climb. Now, many turn to Google, screens, and algorithms that monetize attention but cannot offer real wisdom, presence, or discernment.
The role of the elder has never been more important because the ladders are shakier than ever. So many are climbing without guidance, community, or grounding. Yet the remnants of true wisdom are still alive in those willing to listen, guide, and hold steady for others.
Perhaps our task now is to awaken that wisdom again — to remember that information is not the same as wisdom, and that human presence still matters more than any screen ever will.
Larry Winters LMHC