Seeing the “old” with brand new eyes

American Pickers is one show I really enjoy. Here are some guys who go from place to place to look through old stuff. That's how someone with an untrained eye would describe the show. But these guys are skilled at what they do. They are looking for valuable artifacts to buy at a bargain price and they sometimes restore those items for the purpose of reselling at the maximum value they can get for them. 

In a world where the "new and trendy" gets all the attention, these guys are into the "old and out of style." It makes me wonder how many of us overlook things of great value that don’t have the appearance of being "new." 

In order to stay current it seems we must be able to relate to one another through new experiences or knowledge. This can be great when it comes to staying progressive and keeping our eyes towards the future. But this same approach becomes dangerous when we ignorantly pass by or give up the old, reliable and true to have the new. Some of what’s new is untested and we can’t be sure if it’s reliable for the long haul. 

 Houses built now a days go up quick and in a hurry. They have the modern amenities and look stunning in terms of layout and design, but have you noticed these new houses can have cheap exteriors such as vinyl siding that most likely cover the wood or drywall under that? It’s new but I wouldn’t say it was built for the long haul. The house I live in was built in the early 1900’s. The exterior is brick and when I go to the basement and see the steel beams that are holding up the house I know that this was built from another era and it was built to last. That old house has good bones. 

I really have been finding myself looking at what is older through new eyes. Old books that still pack a punch, old friends who are only old because they’ve been through many seasons with me, old lessons I’ve learned in life that have guided me to this point, old bible passages revealing something more and even old virtues that bring life to others when they are on display.

In a world that can discharge the old for the sake of the new, you will stand out if you know how to pick the old treasures that are out there and bring them into the future.