Seeking Wisdom
Where does wisdom come from?
While I was still young, before I went on my travels, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer. Before the temple I asked for her, and I will search for her until the end. From the first blossom to the ripening grape my heart delighted in her; my foot walked on the straight path; from my youth I followed her steps. I inclined my ear a little and received her, and I found for myself much instruction. I made progress in her; to him who gives wisdom I will give glory. For I resolved to live according to wisdom, and I was zealous for the good, and I shall never be disappointed. My soul grappled with wisdom, and in my conduct I was strict; I spread out my hands to the heavens, and lamented my ignorance of her. I directed my soul to her, and in purity I found her. With her I gained understanding from the first; therefore I will never be forsaken. My heart was stirred to seek her; therefore I have gained a prize possession. The Lord gave me my tongue as a reward, and I will praise him with it. - Sirach 51:13-22
In an article in Psychology Today, the author, Alex Lickerman M.D., poses the idea that wisdom lies just beneath the surface in our minds.
We have the wisdom all the time, but the gift of finding it is sometimes lost.
Sirach tells us that he prayed for wisdom and never stopped seeking it. Every ounce of his being was devoted to finding her and putting her into practice in his life.
In the end, he believed that God gave him the gift to find her, and that gift is his tongue, which he uses to tell everyone about God's grace and power.
For us, in our daily lives, wisdom may seem illusive.
We may struggle to find the answers to our problems, only to get discouraged.
If we don't believe the answer will come, it won't.
It is not enough to know something. We need to be believers. When we believe, we relax, knowing the answer is there and it will reveal itself.
As Lickerman points out, there is a thread attaching all our thoughts to each other, and one thought can easily lead us to another, and so on, until the one that triggers the answer appears.
So, if we believe, the gift we already have will guide us to the truth.
More to come...