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Wisdom Has A Posse


“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power. By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.” (Proverbs 8:12-21) 

As I look at today’s passage, the picture I had taken for the photo directory last year comes to mind. My left arm is wrapped around Grace, and my right hand is holding up my camera, in what I think of as a James Bond hold. I don’t like getting my picture taken, but my goal was to let the people in the resort name that person who walks around all the time with the little yellow dog and the great big camera.  It’s a slightly different take on the adage “You are known by the company you keep.”
          Wisdom’s roommate is prudence. She owns knowledge and discretion, counsel and sound judgment. If you need understanding or power, her door is the one you knock on. No, she’s not the sort you’d want to invite to the bar for a drink on Friday night, but when your life is falling apart, she’s the one you should turn to. And if you haven’t spoken civilly to her before that, you’re not likely to appreciate what she has to say. I mean, how do you like it when the only time a “friend” stops by is when he wants to borrow money that he never pays back?
         Equally, would you like it if every time a friend invited you over, he said, “but leave your roommate at home, and don’t bring anything with you.” You don’t get wisdom without prudence coming along, and they bring their possessions with them: counsel (Oh, we hate being told what to do), sound judgment (Oh, we hate being told that we’re wrong), understanding and power.
          Oh, yeah, well, power… power you can bring with you, and when you leave, Wisdom, I’ll keep power and watch over it for you. No, really, I won’t abuse it, and I won’t act like an indulgent grandparent. No, I’ll take good care of power. Uh-huh. Wisdom is to wise for that. She has  a posse.

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