Monday, July 12, 2010

Listen For Wisdom

"Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man."

-- Ecclesiastes 9:15

Our society has its values all skewed. We esteem wealth, attractiveness, success. We look down on anything less. Oh, come on now. Yes, we do. Who wants to be poor but filled with wisdom? We might like the wisdom but we certainly don't want to be poor.

We don't even seem to really care how someone gets to be successful and wealthy. We turn a blind eye toward the road traveled and see only the end result. We justify the journey, convincing ourselves that nothing matters but the reward.

We don't see the strength that makes a person wise. We don't see the wisdom that comes from choosing the good of others over the good of self. We don't see that poverty isn't shame and that wisdom doesn't always come with riches.

I've been reading an awesome book, "Same King of Different As Me" by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. It is the story of an upscale art dealer and a homeless drifter. It's simple truth reminds me that it is only by God's grace that any of us were born into our particular circumstances.

In the book, Moore asks Hall about the ten keys on his key ring. He asked if Hall owned something that went with each of them. Hall said yes. But Moore wanted to know if Hall truly owned the items or if the items owned him. Thought provoking, isn't it? Wisdom comes from places we'd never suspect, from people we'd never imagine.

We have so much to learn from those around us. Sometimes those who seem least likely to offer wisdom are the ones who have the most wisdom to offer if we only take time to listen.