Chasing Wisdom

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Written by Jen Tuesday, 31 March 2009 13:25

It was a childish dream, but I thought if perhaps I just stood close to my father, some of his wisdom would pass to me. Maybe I could absorb some of his measured thoughts, his inspired judgment. I begged for some help from my dad, who always has something of substance to offer when asked about raising children, but never shares advice without being asked.

"I'm not Solomon," he said gently.

"What?" I wanted to scream. "Then can you please go get him ‘cause we're drowning here." But Dad just said he would give it some thought.

Also a childish whim, I used to think wisdom would certainly arrive once I reached the magical age of 40. Yes, then I would be wise, indeed. Come and gone and I'm still waiting.

So I turned to my favorite Catholic Study Bible (The New American Bible). "The wise person is the one who can adequately assess the demands of a situation and who is experienced and flexible enough to behave in a way that is appropriate to that particular situation," write the editors and contributors when introducing the Wisdom Books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Songs, Wisdom, and Sirach). Sounds simple enough, yet humans sought this gift well before biblical scholars delved into its meaning.

Wisdom remains allusive to me, particularly when it comes to reacting to my children's growing pains and errors, great and small. But I have faith that what I have told them remains true. You are affected by the company you keep. Have wise friends and associations and you absorb goodness. Spend your time with those lacking judgment and values and you get that too. Be a leader, not a follower. Have a backbone. Pray.

So it's really not proximity to the wise that matters, it is the opportunity to practice what you observe. Tough it is, indeed, for nothing worth obtaining comes easily.