Patience and Persistence

It's hard to keep an open mind
As one begins to age;
Accumulated knowledge
Makes one feel like a sage.

Experience informs our thoughts
About the way things work;
We hear of some strange new idea
And reject it like a jerk.

But, sometimes we should stop and think
Of how when we were young
We often sought a different path
Along the ways unsung

And in the journey 'cross the sea
Of trackless wilderness
We learned about so many things
That God would often bless.

Persistence paid us dividends
And patience brought us luck
Though failing on our journey
We rose above the muck.

With just those two to lead us
Upon our merry way;
Patience and persistence
Made what we are today,

Which is a form of wisdom
Filled with the things we learned
As we travel on this journey
To the rest we've dearly earned.