“I know already, Dad!”

I rolled my eyes and gripped the steering wheel about as tightly as my father was gritting his teeth. I drove into the street as the car sputtered forward.

“Slow down!”

“I’m going the speed limit!” I said as the car almost went on two wheels around the curve.

I was approaching a time in my life where I was one road test away from fulfilling my dreams of independence. The open road beckoned me to chart my own course.

In order to take the test, I would have to pass the far tougher test of proving to my father that I could navigate these uncharted territories. I had read the book and knew the rules. What I lacked was experience and street cred. Driving was a bit more difficult than I had anticipated, but I would never let my dad know that.

“Put on your turn signal when you pull up to this parallel parking space,” my father said.

“I know, Dad!”

“Stop the car!” My father said sternly as I brought it to a screeching halt. “I know you are 15 years old and already know everything. But do me a favor, and let me think that I am teaching you something.”

I have never forgotten that statement. I had a lot to learn about life from those who had lived more of it than I.

Father’s Day is a great day for us to honor and respect the men of another generation who have influenced us to be the individuals we are today. These men include both biological and spiritual fathers. There is a richness that comes from having a relationship with those from generations other than our own, and there is the ability to learn from their victories and mistakes.

The obstacles for uniting these generations include a lack of humility, failure to listen, and a misunderstanding of one another. It will only be through intentional relationships that these obstacles will be overcome.

If you are from a younger generation, go eat breakfast where the locals eat, and listen to the stories of the older generation. Seek out men and honor them by asking them questions and listening to their wisdom. Younger men and women need older men to believe in them enough to spend time with them and pass the baton of leadership. Seek out someone younger than you to pour wisdom into.

I passed my driving test on my first try. I’d like to think it was because of my skills behind the wheel, but the reality is that I had a good instructor. I will always cherish the lessons I learned from him and others in his generation.

(Excerpted from “Unite: Connecting Generations for Kingdom Expansion,” with contributions from Lee Clamp and other South Carolina Baptist pastors and planters from a variety of generations. Available from Amazon at http://goo.gl/v0km3I.)