The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom. ~ Proverbs 4:7
I cracked up when read that. It's like, "Gee thanks, Solomon. How much do i owe you for that one?" Haha, but interestingly, my experience has many times over confirmed that it's as simple as that. The interesting thing about the Kingdom of God is that you have to go and seek it out. It is the exception, not the rule when God makes Himself as plain as a rubber chicken smacking you in the forehead. We must go and find it like the pearl of great price.
With closest custody, guard your heart,
for in it are the sources of life. ~ Proverbs 4:23
I thought this was pretty profound. Lately, I've been realizing how much junk I take in from the world. It's crazy because there are so many permutations of what you can take in. I take in frustatingly false messages from the media, but also lies from other people, even those closest to me. How easy is it to believe that we're not good enough or that we have to be better? It's not like people are saying or even meaning these things per se, but it's interesting how what we believe about ourselves affects the way we take things in. I think that when this verse tells us to guard our hearts, it means not only from others, but ourselves as well. For those of us who are confirmed, we have the certainty of knowing that the Holy Spirit is fully sealed inside our hearts. Let's make sure we don't let any enemies of that get in.
On another note, Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We have so much to be thankful for. As always, I'm thankful for the tangible things in my life like close family, great health, deep friendships, and the fact that I am not lacking any of life's necessities, including a fatty Thanksgiving meal. However, when these realizations are placed next to the reality that there are so many people in the world that lack some or even all of these things, it leaves me in a bit of a quandary. There's a sense of feeling so lucky (and by "lucky," I hope I mean blessed), but at the same time, feelings of guilt might easily emerge. How can I enjoy such comforts in life while so many are suffering? It's like, maybe I should just fast from the Thanksgiving meal in order to stand in solidarity with these brothers and sisters? In the past, I may have seriously considered this, but as I've learned from Proverbs to "get wisdom," I've found peace and softness of heart in situations like these. Though doing a fast might seem admirable, there's a way in which it comes from a hard heart of taking these burdens onto our own shoulders, not to mention the fracturing of family and friends coming together. I have found that when seeking after God (aka my homie Wisdom) in all aspects of my life, working towards social justice permeates my life in other ways, but leaves me with the peace of knowing that God is ultimately in control and that his yoke is easy, his burden light. This leaves me with the freedom to enjoy all that God has given me in a way that's not insulting to Him (telling Him that I'm not worthy), and allows me to fully receive these awesome gifts that our loving Father in heaven has so joyfully given me.
Excuse me, I'ma go and enjoy me some turkey action.
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1 comment:
that's such an awesome reminder for me-- that God is in ultimate control, and that his yoke is easy, and the burden light. i always feel so comforted by that thought in my times of distress or when the ugly head of worry begins to peep in my subconscious.
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