WISDOM
There's a poem by Francis Thompson, The Hound of Heaven which was often quoted by Fr. Matthew in his talks after Compline at Gethsemani. It opens with these haunting lines: "down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind; and in the mist of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter. Up vistaed hopes I sped; And shot, precipitated, adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears, from those strong Feet that followed, followed after."
The poem came to mind early this morning, as this past week I've been 'hounded' by thoughts of wisdom. What is it? Who has it? How does one aquire it? How does one recognize it?
One thing fairly clear is that wisdom is not conterminous with knowledge or age - a mistaken idea held by many. Living long enough does not make someone wise. Neither does amassing an alphabet soup after your name.
Political savvy is sometimes confused with wisdom. Most often in the circles I run in, the ability of persuasive speech is confused for wisdom. But who hasn't heard the un-scripted conversation of a politician and wondered where all the wisdom went. Or who hasn't been in the company of someone we admired from afar only to find that their close-up reality didn't live up to their public hype.
I've come to believe that there's a lot of false wisdom running around. You can spot it most easily by its constant companion hubris. Pride is a sure sign that we're not as wise as we think we are. False wisdom acts before seeking wise counsel. We all know what that's like... when deciding from false wisdom, we only ask the advice of people who we know will agree with us!
It seems to me that: some people are born with wisdom at their disposal; some are wise when young and then lose it; some constantly search for it; and some, well, let's just say they depend on the wisdom of others. Presently I'm in the searching group - not that I chose to be - it's that Hound.
I do believe wisdom is humble. People who move from a place of wisdom don't force or shout. They never demand and don't act impulsively. It's as though their body, mind and spirit all move at the same time. It makes them solid and true -- rather than scattered and crazed. The motives of true wisdom are humble as well. Wisdom's motives seem very much like gifts of the Spirit - goodness, kindness, gentleness, peace. Show me someone who makes decisions from these motives, and I'll show you someone who is wise. True wisdom is never motivated by crassness, currency or consumption "the three C's of folly.
The Book of Proverbs has a lot to teach us about wisdom; and that's even before we get to all those pithy two liners. On Trinity Sunday this year I preached a sermon from the opening Chapters of Proverbs. You can read the beginning of it on the Peace River Spirituality website: http://www.peaceriverspirituality.org/#/sermons where the study of that particular passage took me was to consider how much wisdom was a gift.
Like Thompson's Hound of Heaven perhaps Wisdom is "following, following after." Or is calling from the busiest street-corners as it says in Proverbs. At the very least that would explain the hounding I've experienced lately. If that is how Wisdom exists, in pursuit, then those who desire Wisdom need only to stop.
The image I have is of one person turning to look at someone behind them. When their gazes meet, its obvious that they each are looking at someone familiar and beloved. Next they sit facing each other knee-to-knee and begin their conversation.
Wisdom comes to us in relationship, not classroom or number of years. Wisdom comes to us when we make time to receive Her. Wisdom, though persistent in pursuit, does not force Her way into our lives but speaks only when turned towards, when invited. Wisdom is seldom heard by those in a hurry or with full agendas. Wisdom always leads us to life, abundant and eternal. Wisdom, my friend, is knocking. Take time this week to open the door. Invite Her in for a cup of tea. BLESSINGS AND JOY, THE CELTIC MONK.
The poem came to mind early this morning, as this past week I've been 'hounded' by thoughts of wisdom. What is it? Who has it? How does one aquire it? How does one recognize it?
One thing fairly clear is that wisdom is not conterminous with knowledge or age - a mistaken idea held by many. Living long enough does not make someone wise. Neither does amassing an alphabet soup after your name.
Political savvy is sometimes confused with wisdom. Most often in the circles I run in, the ability of persuasive speech is confused for wisdom. But who hasn't heard the un-scripted conversation of a politician and wondered where all the wisdom went. Or who hasn't been in the company of someone we admired from afar only to find that their close-up reality didn't live up to their public hype.
I've come to believe that there's a lot of false wisdom running around. You can spot it most easily by its constant companion hubris. Pride is a sure sign that we're not as wise as we think we are. False wisdom acts before seeking wise counsel. We all know what that's like... when deciding from false wisdom, we only ask the advice of people who we know will agree with us!
It seems to me that: some people are born with wisdom at their disposal; some are wise when young and then lose it; some constantly search for it; and some, well, let's just say they depend on the wisdom of others. Presently I'm in the searching group - not that I chose to be - it's that Hound.
I do believe wisdom is humble. People who move from a place of wisdom don't force or shout. They never demand and don't act impulsively. It's as though their body, mind and spirit all move at the same time. It makes them solid and true -- rather than scattered and crazed. The motives of true wisdom are humble as well. Wisdom's motives seem very much like gifts of the Spirit - goodness, kindness, gentleness, peace. Show me someone who makes decisions from these motives, and I'll show you someone who is wise. True wisdom is never motivated by crassness, currency or consumption "the three C's of folly.
The Book of Proverbs has a lot to teach us about wisdom; and that's even before we get to all those pithy two liners. On Trinity Sunday this year I preached a sermon from the opening Chapters of Proverbs. You can read the beginning of it on the Peace River Spirituality website: http://www.peaceriverspirituality.org/#/sermons where the study of that particular passage took me was to consider how much wisdom was a gift.
Like Thompson's Hound of Heaven perhaps Wisdom is "following, following after." Or is calling from the busiest street-corners as it says in Proverbs. At the very least that would explain the hounding I've experienced lately. If that is how Wisdom exists, in pursuit, then those who desire Wisdom need only to stop.
The image I have is of one person turning to look at someone behind them. When their gazes meet, its obvious that they each are looking at someone familiar and beloved. Next they sit facing each other knee-to-knee and begin their conversation.
Wisdom comes to us in relationship, not classroom or number of years. Wisdom comes to us when we make time to receive Her. Wisdom, though persistent in pursuit, does not force Her way into our lives but speaks only when turned towards, when invited. Wisdom is seldom heard by those in a hurry or with full agendas. Wisdom always leads us to life, abundant and eternal. Wisdom, my friend, is knocking. Take time this week to open the door. Invite Her in for a cup of tea. BLESSINGS AND JOY, THE CELTIC MONK.
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