Wisdom is calling out.
We sometimes tease a child and say, “You are wise beyond your years” my mother’s family nickname was Wise Old Bird or WOB for short. She never suggested to us it should be so. I can’t remember who first called her that. It is just something that seemed to happen. But I suggest it was probably one of my nieces who invented the name and then it just stuck. It seemed so appropriate. She was wise, after all, and also a good listener. People came to her for advice, family members, friends and even friends of my friends. Even now, I sometimes think, “What would mom say” especially when I’m pursuing some of my small stupid projects.
I wonder when she was a child, for was she considered to be one wise beyond her years? At what stage did she become the person we called WOB?
Maybe she was taught wisdom in the fields of adversity. She lived through World War 2, of course, and then there was an unhappy marriage that tested her steadfastness and patience. Eventually bringing up five children on a shoestring. I think if she was sitting here now, she might interject and say. “And what about my faith? Why don’t you explain about that?
She was a Christian all her life. Her faith wasn’t a habit or an insurance policy. It was way more than that. Her faith in Jesus meant a lot to her. It was a source of nurture and nourishment. Without making a big deal of it, she prayed daily and in her unobtrusive matter of fact way set an example for us . Wise old bird, Yes, she was indeed.
Wisdom and its pursuit is a very biblical theme. Throughout the Bible, it is referenced as a virtue worthy of pursuit. The men reading this might like to note at this point that it is always referred to by using the feminine pronoun ‘she. ‘However, all of us should pursue wisdom and, as the Bible puts it, at all costs. Strange imperative. Perhaps to those of us that think sin is attractive it helps us to realise that sinning is bad for the spiritual life.
Elsewhere in the bible it says, “in the secret of my heart, teach me wisdom.,” The word of God reminds us. It says that , “ wisdom is calling out.” Perhaps that is one of the ways that our faith starts, wisdom calling out to us, trying to attract our attention. Even when we are in the middle of all the crazy stuff. When we are pursuing the very things that are harmful to us.
The Bible also warns us not to be, “wise in our own eyes” My mother enjoyed being called WOB, but I don’t think she ever expected it or understood that we really did think that she was wise. It seemed to be a mantle that she wore very lightly and with good humour. I think I normal response when people said it was to give a small laugh and perhaps a hug.
What does this all mean for us today, I wonder? Don’t be frightened of God, I would say. The higher power is benevolent, I believe. God in His loving kindness wants us to see the wisdom of having faith. He wants us to explore and enjoy what it means to have wisdom. I said my mother was wise and a good listener. I think when we immerse ourselves in the things of God like she did, change slowly and start to like God, we get wisdom. Also, like God, we become a good listener and attentive to what others may say to us. Wisdom starts in the secret of our hearts and begins to grow until our love for others increases and we learn to listen.
Each one of us has a faith journey. We have an invitation from God to follow. Our paths are not identical as God allows himself to be found in different ways. Perhaps wisdom is partly the ability to recognise that to search him out makes sense.
God, I beg you give me wisdom this day and forever. Amen.
