What to do with Wisdom?
Questions on the search, practice, and journey of Wisdom
I tussled with a question not too long ago… I’ve “acquired” a lot of “wisdom” throughout my life, through both my studies and the school-of-life. So now what? What do I do with it? Sure it helps me guide my life in a positive direction, but what happens when others don’t quite agree with my practice and behavior?
I’m not trying to go on any crusades, but I do want to share what I think are positive thoughts and tips with those I love. What happens when they are rejected? Is that a rejection of me, my “wisdom”, or both?
This cascade of questions flowing through my head, I turned to two books that have given me so much insight before, Proverbs and the Tao Te Ching. Below are two excerpts that helped me with the questions:
Proverbs 9:7–12
“Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone suffer.”
Tao Te Ching, Ch. 65, Stephen Mitchell translation
“The ancient Masters
Didn’t try to educate the people,
But kindly taught them to not-know.When they think that they know the answers,
People are difficult to guide.
When they know that they don’t know,
People can find their own way.If you want to learn how to govern,
Avoid being clever or rich.
The simplest pattern is the clearest.
Content with an ordinary life,
You can show all people the way
Back to their own true nature.”
yirat Yahweh, fear of the Lord
The “fear”, or alternately translated, “awe” of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. The original Hebrew word, yirah, actually means both. I say “awe” is better, as it captures the essence of being completely receptive to the beauty and majesty of something, especially God and Creation. Being in a receptive state of God’s majesty is the beginning of Wisdom.
“Fear” typically means something that you want to put up a wall or defense against, and I feel that is an inappropriate stance to have towards God and the beauty of Creation.
There’s actually much more to be unpacked from the original Hebrew phrase, “yirat Yahweh”, but that will have to be a topic for another day.
Wisdom is what tells you that you do not know.
Mockers think they already know the answers, therefore they don’t want to hear yours or mine. Wisdom is what tells you that you do not know. This is not-knowing, and it’s a more receptive and open-minded state. Thus the wise, by receiving instruction, become wiser still. They know that they don’t know all of the answers.
So what to do with Wisdom?
Nothing other than to live my life as simply, humbly, and honestly as I can. Be the example of the wisdom I claim to have. If, when I try to instruct, I get insults and abuse back, then I will know what I am dealing with. It is still not my place to judge, but I can be smarter and wiser with my energy and actions.
I’ll end with this little metaphor that came to me recently…
As long as you remain as a rock in the river,
trying to force the water to flow as you wish,
then you will forever be thwarted.
The water will not stop.
It will flow in the only direction that it is meant to go,
down.
So you then align your will with the water’s purpose,
make its purpose your purpose.
Perhaps you will then realize
that you are both the rock and the river.
When you are one in purpose then you are one in being.
Even when we are not one in purpose,
the Tao flows through us all.
