Wisdom

                 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13)

                Wisdom and understanding don’t really happen without activity.  You do something stupid, fall, and hurt yourself and if you gain wisdom, you understand that you shouldn’t do that stupid thing. You might learn the same by watching someone else go through the process, but too often, we take their failure as a challenge. “They did it wrong, we will do it right/better.”

                If we are wise, we should show it, not by impressing others with our wisdom, but by doing what is right. Doing something stupid or wrong doesn’t help you or anyone else. Perhaps more importantly, according to James, wisdom is marked by humility. I’d like to say “in our culture” but I suspect it’s true of many (perhaps all) cultures, but humility doesn’t factor in. Sometimes, cultures teach that personal humility is good, but usually, family, tribal, or national pride takes its place. There is some “us” that is better than “them.” I or we have shown ourselves to be superior.

                The truth is that wisdom doesn’t play that game. Oh, there are times when we must oppose them, but it’s not because we’re better or even that we’re right. It’s that they aren’t right and we must bring them to the point where they are or we must prevent them from doing harm. That doesn’t make us great. Or important. Wisdom isn’t impressed with the self. Nor is it abusive of the self. Wisdom leads to the often true conclusion that it’s not about us at all. It’s about doing good.