“Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice?” (Proverbs 8:1)
She does, beloved reader she does. But as the writer of Proverbs knew very well, not everyone listens to wisdom or understanding. Not even when it comes a common sense. In our world today common sense is left in the dust, and wisdom & understanding is pushed aside for what is desired because of misguided thinking. I see such things every day in social media. I am sure you do too!
“On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
“To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.” (Verses 3 – 4)
It can be asked, how can people not see wisdom and understanding? How can they be blind to what others see so clearly? I often wonder this. It is not a crime or a sin to not see what is the wisest and best thing to do. It is not a crime or sin to not understand and to act foolishly or impulsively, or even to ignore the most prudent way to act. It is sin though, I believe, to not discern the harm that comes to others because one ignores or refuses wise, prudent, and understanding action. Sin need not be large or ugly. In the same way, it is a crime to cause harm when one knows better; negligence is a crime when the victim is helpless or vulnerable or cannot stop the consequences of the act.
“The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago.
Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth– when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world’s first bits of soil.” (Verses 22 – 26)
Do you believe, beloved reader, humanity was endowed with some form of wisdom? Do you also believe it is some level of sin to ignore that wisdom? Much hurt has been done because the wisdom imbued into creation has been ignored. There are so many ways to act wisely and carefully.
“When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.” (Verses 27 – 31)
We need wisdom back in the world. We need understanding in order to untangle and unravel the complexities we have allowed, and yes welcomed, into our lives. At significant times throughout the story of humanity, wisdom and understanding has been introduced and re-introduced; hard and harsh lessons learned because we as a society ignored what should have been plain and simple.
Let us look deep within ourselves, beloved reader, and re-commit our selves to being caring and compassionate people. True wisdom is not found in tomes and volumes of books. Nor from peering into endless telescopes and microscopes. Wisdom that can and will save humanity is found in looking deep into the eyes of the humanity and creation around us, and then working tirelessly to fill the needs of those near to us and far away. Compassion, care, forgiveness, mercy, and grace put into action will result in wisdom and understanding. Shalom & Selah!
A Simple Desire 
Your comments are welcome