Coming into my late teens, I'm finally realizing that, even if I know a bit, I'm still an idiot. There is a quote that comes to mind, but for the life of me, I can't find who said it. At this point, I'm thinking that I either misquoted so badly that it's impossible to find the source, or I dreamed it up and gave credit to someone else for it. O__o In any case, it's "Knowledge tells you that you're better than everyone else. Wisdom tells you that, in the scheme of things, you're still an idiot." I can now say, without feeling proud, that I am a wise person. Eating Proverbs and Romans like candy has probably helped a bit there. And of course, old fashioned life experience.
Now, for a lot of people, realizing that you don't know anything might be kind of scary, but honestly, it should be a comfort. It means that the stuff that doesn't make sense to you doesn't make sense simply because you don't understand. We live in an orderly world; a beautiful, living, growing, changing world with purpose. We can't control it all, we'd make ourselves crazy if we tried. You can't read minds or keep the sun from setting in the same way you can't understand everything. That doesn't mean that we should not care or stop trying though! Proverbs 25:2 says "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search it out is the glory of kings". God purposefully gave us math, science and logic so that we could study this world and it's workings. It's glorious to study it and understand. It gives him pleasure when we find and enjoy the minute details of his creation. This amazing, structured universe is his handiwork, however, and we have to recognize that to derive the true joy he intended.
When we humble ourselves, as I'm slowly learning to do, we can finally see clearly, or at least as clearly as we were intended to. This has been a process for me. Learning what 'open-minded' really means and catching myself being too much so was an important part. You can't listen too much, but remember to keep thinking, and consulting the Word and people you trust in the process of learning. There is a quote (another one!) by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. I don't have a clue who the guy is, so don't judge me for quoting him if he's a mass murderer or something, but he said "if you're too open minded, your brains will fall out." And too true that is! In my World Views course, I've learned to recognize that I can't compromise a logical conclusion for open mindedness. Being tolerant is second to having morals and being reasonable, and I think just about everyone would agree with that.
Finding that balance between listening, thinking, and acting can be difficult. Through the aforementioned wisdom, I've found that this balance is vital, but applying it is beyond my wisdom, if not beyond wisdom altogether. Say you are in a difficult situation where you think that someone could benefit from hearing your opinion on a matter. You've done lots of praying and reading on the matter and know exactly what you want to say. You can check thinking off of your list. But then you talk to some people about it in order to get an insight into what the other person's point of view may be, and you begin to question if talking to them in this way is correct. Mixed opinions leave you a bit confused. You've listened, and thought, but now how do you act? Not every decision is as straight forward as we might like. Sometimes, the answer just comes to you, but other times, it doesn't.
I'm still working on this. Someday, I hope that these three things can finally work together to produce clear answers. Humility and acceptance that I might never know enough for that to happen is a comfort.
Now, I'd generally direct this kind of stuff to people who are my age: older teens and young adults. But I think everyone could learn a bit from this. I've seen so, so, sooo many adults who think they've got it all together and know everything. Honestly, it makes me feel a bit queasy. One great thing you can do for your kid or someone you have charge over is to show them you don't know everything. Give them all that you can, but don't act like you're the end all king or queen of experience and wisdom. I've been blessed with many adults in my life, including my parents and teachers, who recognize that they aren't perfect and don't know everything. Instead of trying to be the god figure in their students and childrens' lives, they step down a bit and leave God to be who He is. That's a great gift. And a pretty darn easy one to give. ^__^
I won't beg you to read this or leave comments, but, you know, if the mood strikes...
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