Being Wise II

Having often wondered about the difference between wisdom and knowledge, I have come to understand that wisdom is how knowledge is applied.

"Get wisdom! Get understanding!...Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting (knowledge seeking), get understanding."

--Proverbs 4:5 and 7

Wisdom is distinguished by understanding and makes knowledge applicable.

Being Ex-Senate Leader Joseph Bruno

Will the corruption in public and private life, in government and business, ever end? The New York Times reports on the former GOP State Senator Joseph Bruno's indictment.

Bruno is believed to have received "more than $3 million over a 13-year period, beginning in 1993, from a handful of companies seeking contracts and grants with the state, as well as contracts to manage pension fund investments for at least 16 labor unions."

By the way, what ever happened to Senator Ted Stevens? Out of sight out of mind? I'd like to know. Steven's conviction in the hundreds of thousands (some $250,000 to be exact) seems like chump change in comparison, though no less egregious.

Maybe jail time mixed in with the general population can be a deterrent. But has jail time ever been deterrent? Greed seems to supersede the possibility of jail. It seems to blind the once perceived wise man leader of the Senate.

Senators in ancient times were so revered for their wisdom and ethics. What a reversal. But then again the more things change the more they seem to stay the same. These senators often became wealthy at the expense of the provinces.

What are we to do?

Being Wise

"Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to everyone generously without a rebuke, and it will be given to him."

-- James 1:5

Wisdom is listening wholly and responding in love.

Being Spiritual

Wisdom is spiritual. Love is spiritual. Ethics is spiritual. Sex is spiritual. Brilliance is spiritual. We are spirit of flesh.

"The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord."

--Proverbs 20:27

Being Self-Confident

The decision that President-elect Obama has presumably chosen his former rival, Hillary Clinton to serve as Secretary of State shows an incredible amount of self-confidence and leadership, not to mention wisdom. Senator Clinton is most qualified for the job. Through his decisions President-elect Obama is proving to be a person of immense self-confidence, a quality needed for any great transformational leader.

Being Demanding

"Power concedes nothing without demand."

--Frederick Douglass

But how we do what we do when we do it, makes the difference.

Wisdom and understanding are essential.

Being Sister Cecilia Gaudette: A 106- Year-Old Nun in Rome for Obama

Age has most certainly taught Sister Cecilia Gaudette wisdom. She is obviously unmoved by social politics which seek to ban the choice of women. She obviously believes in liberty.

In fact, Jesus Christ Himself believed in the "perfect law of liberty." The consequences and joys of choices we all bare and share. But the choice is nonetheless ours.

Continued blessings Sister Cecilia Gaudette!

Isn't she just too cute?

Being Knowledgeable

"Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and profitable to those who see the sun. For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it." (Ecclesiastes 7:12)

Is knowledge attained over time or expeditiously?

If the former is so, we have tremendous potential for success even when success appears to be quite elusive.

If the latter is so, the advantage is on our side, for existence, the ticking of time speedily and efficiently, is itself affirming.

If they are both so being that knowledge increases over time, and movement is always occurring now, we gain a certain knowledge simply for our efforts alone.

Being knowledgeable requires effort bit by bit that appears now through many trials and errors, having been developed all the time, along the way, though appearing today.

Being knowledgeable requires wisdom in time.