WISE GUY

I come from a long line of "Wise Guys".  Our brand of showing love in the family I grew up in was a LOT of kidding.  The sharp retort and glib comedic response ruled supreme in the James clan.  We learned it at the knee of my mother who was known for saying such things as, "You left good taste at home when you bought that."  After you scrape yourself off the floor following a zinger, you learned to play the game.  There have been times I have offended others with my sarcasm-intended for kidding creating the need for an explanation that I only pick on those that I love.  Subtle humor and quick wit ruled supreme in our family.  We still return to our love language of origin when together by trading barbs and quips.




Occasionally someone reading my musing will accuse me of being wise.  This may be a more than slight exaggeration--the fact that I am able to articulate on paper the thoughts that are whirling around in my head does not necessarily mean I am wise.  I am, though, a keen observer of all that takes place around me and have been accused in the past of over analyzing.  Perhaps, but is that not better than always taking things at face value with no thought for the why's?  

What is wisdom?  What does it mean to be considered wise?  Webster tells us being wise is-

having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

and wisdom is-

the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.


It has been my observation that book learning does not equate into being wise or possessing wisdom.  These definitions seem to prove that out.  I have known some brilliant people who did not seem to possess the sense to come in out of the rain.  As a student of life and man, I have gained knowledge by studying and through my experiences and hopefully have the good judgement to use what I have learned to live a better life.


And then there is the source of all wisdom-God.  As pointed out in The Book, our wisdom can not hold a candle to the all wise-all knowing-eternal God.  One of the students I mentor asked me this week, "When did God appear?"  You should have seen the look on his face as I told him, "God has always been here?  God was--and all the rest came after."  If God was first--then it makes perfect sense He is the possessor of all wisdom and He is all wise. I am thankful our eternally present, unchanging, essence of love Father is also the possessor of all wisdom. Would we worship a God who was any less? 

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom
I Corinthians 1:25


5 comments

  1. I think this article you've just written proves that you are wise! Enough said. Oh ... and kind and generous too, judging from the help you give your family and your volunteering. Oh ... adventurous and brace too ... judging from all your travelling and jumping off planes and sliding down wires between mountains and ... OK ... I'm tired now ... enough said.

    God bless.

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    1. Oh Victor, there is a side of me that is also a sniveling cowardly cave dweller! I am thankful for your kind encouragement. We all could use a daily dose of that!
      Blessings !

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  2. I'll tell you...Victor always make me smile...Runningggggggggggggggg STILL behind...good grief...sigh.

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Your comments keep my writing and often cause me to think. A written form of a hug or a pat on the back and an occasional slap into reality---I treasure them all!