Wisdom, Sanity, Knowledge, and Discretion

The scriptures speak of many things that are hard to believe. Jonah survives in the belly of a whale. One family manages to live on a boat filled with animals in pairs without killing each other during a flood for the ages. God keeps picking weird and weak and unlikely characters to carry his message of hope to hurting people. The most righteous among his people loses his shirt, his health, his family, his reputation and his side-hustles in some strange social experiment testing the motivations of a man who loves God with all his heart, mind, soul and strength. And then we find a passage like this one:

“I am Lady Wisdom, and I live next to Sanity; Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street. The Fear-of-God means hating Evil, whose ways I hate with a passion — pride and arrogance and crooked talk. Good counsel and common sense are my characteristics; I am both Insight and the Virtue to live it out. With my help, leaders rule, and lawmakers legislate fairly; With my help, governors govern, along with all in legitimate authority. I love those who love me; those who look for me find me. Wealth and Glory accompany me — also substantial Honor and a Good Name. My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary; the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus. You can find me on Righteous Road—that’s where I walk — at the intersection of Justice Avenue, Handing out life to those who love me, filling their arms with life—armloads of life!”

Proverbs 8:17 The Message

If Paulette Meier has correctly captured a slice of the 17th century - how would these verses have been received? How do we hear them today? Do we believe that history has taught us that rulers and lawmakers lead wisely and rule fairly? Sometimes? Always? Never? I suppose the answer depends. Do we believe, as some do, that the benefits of loving God include wealth and glory and honor and a good name? I am really not sure about that one! But this I can buy. I’ve seen it with my own eyes in the lives of others, and therefore, I have hope. These characteristics like to hang out and pal around. Wisdom, sanity, knowledge, discretion, humility, straight talk, wise counsel, common sense, insight and virtue go together like peanut butter and jelly on my friend Anne’s homemade sourdough bread. Fox suggested we find these things in the silence. He noticed that awareness was heightened as Quakers sat together in it. Although inspiration might be found in an email, good book or daily devotional - the work of experiencing the Lord consciously and near to us comes as we become suspicious of cheap talk and committed to a good sit among those who seek unity, walking, and awareness of His presence.

Searching for Deeper Meaning

In 17th century England, in what “seemed like almost apocalyptic conditions”, Paulette shares what happened when people began to search for deeper meaning in their lives. She continues. “When George Fox and others began speaking of the need to turn inward for meaning and direction, thousands were drawn to their message. People discovered a depth of hidden truth about themselves and their world when they delved deep into silent contemplation, and the experience was amplified when they did this communally. Paulette wrote a song inspired by a quote from Fox’s writing:

"All meet together everywhere, and in your meetings wait upon the Lord. And take heed of forming words, but mind the Power, and know that which is eternal, which will keep you all in unity, walking in the Spirit, and will let you see the Lord near you and among you."

During a time of mistrust, brutal punishments handed out to anyone deemed a political threat, a housing crisis, and pandemic that killed 100,000 people in one city - George Fox and others said, “...see the Lord near you and among you.” Maybe even in your inbox.

If you are struggling to trust, find sustainable solutions, figure out how to love your neighbor (who thinks WAY differently than you about almost everything), and live a reasonably peaceful life, well, welcome to my world. Our world. Our current reality. Most of us are in this same place - even if our beliefs are all over the map. We have tons of stuff in common.

How can we “see the Lord near and among us”?

George Fox and friends suggested that we stop talking and start focusing on that which is eternal, the things that we can find unity around, and walk in the Spirit. These practices allow us to see what is real. The Lord is near us and among us. Amazing.

Trust The Journey

"All meet together everywhere, and in your meetings wait upon the Lord. And take heed of forming words, but mind the Power, and know that which is eternal, which will keep you all in unity, walking in the Spirit, and will let you see the Lord near you and among you."

George Fox

On the day I could find no hope, I chose a series of actions that have helped me in the past. I started with cleaning out my inbox. This discipline is much like how I approach vacations. I cannot go on vacation unless my house is spotless, including the garage. This drives my husband crazy. Cleaning out my inbox, organizing my desk, gathering pen, paper, books and a cup of coffee in just the right mug...all of this is necessary preparation for a spiritual quest.

The journey often involves massive amounts of procrastination early in the trip, but on this particular day, I went looking and found what I needed within three clicks. Paulette Meier (a Quaker activist and singer) had appeared on Mike Morrell’s podcast and he conveniently sent out an email with notes from the session. (I have never received anything from him before; I have no clue who he is or how he ended up in my inbox.) My intent was to scan, delete and unsubscribe. What actually occurred was way more complicated.

Paulette says, “Quakerism began in 17th century England at a time that was also filled with trauma and peril. Two civil wars ravaged the country, and the plague killed 100,000 people in London alone, followed by the Great Fire that burnt the city down, leaving thousands homeless. There was a great deal of corruption and mistrust of political leaders, and brutal punishments were doled out to those who were deemed a political threat, not the least of which were the Quakers. With conditions that seemed almost apocalyptic, many people searched for deeper meaning in their lives than what they could find from the clerical churches.”

Woah. This, I thought, sounds familiar. In that quick scan I uncovered a directional sign; with lightning speed my malaise lifted. My very being hummed in anticipation of the encouragement that I knew I would find if I kept digging. Tomorrow, I will share some of what I unearthed.

Finding Inspiration in the Most Mundane Places

“We teach best what we most need to learn.”

Richard Bach

I am undone in every way. I’ve held out as long as my resources have allowed. I am at the end of my rope. Fortunately, dangling at the end of a rope is not new to me; today I will hide myself up here in my zoom lair (home office) and try to find my way back home.

I am like a wilted plant; I need spraying down with the hose and some sustaining spiritual nourishment. My anxiety is itchy; my hard fought optimism is missing in action. I open up my computer and I search for inspiration. This starts with cleaning out my inbox. The absolute first thing I come to is a history lesson. Tucked into my inbox is an interview with Quaker activist and singer Paulette Meier. I ask you to notice this one small thing: I set out in search of inspiration and found meaning while cleaning out my inbox. Mundane. Habitual. Neither sexy nor spiritual-sounding work. And yet...this is where God’s Spirit touched me. It’s hard to remember and amazing to re-learn that a large gulp of springs of living water and spiritual nurture are only a breath (and intention) away.

I woke up this morning without an ounce of energy, a ton of attitude, and one true thing. It was a thought that over-rode my feelings and directed my actions. In my head, it sounded like this: “Teresa, you have been here a million times before; you know what you need; you need to do the next right thing. Head toward home, even if you doubt its existence and feel as if you do not know which highway to hop on to get there.”

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Proverbs 8:17 NIV

Roll Up Your Sleeves!

Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.

Aristotle

Our “doing” center of intelligence mobilizes our energy to act on the thoughts and feelings of the other two centers. If we cannot act on what we believe is right and what we feel is fair, no one benefits from our thoughts or feelings. Through its capacity for imagination and innovation, it steadily moves toward completion of the tasks that vision and value call for. It is best at creativity.

Well. First off, I struggle to trust what I believe and give it the thumbs up for being right. And I am not great at fairness. Honestly. I’m not. Objectivity is not my strong suit. I am reactive, especially when I feel like someone is putting my peeps in danger or not looking out for the interests of the common good.

My heart breaks when I see how hard it is for us to listen to one another. I cannot believe it when folks don’t seem to understand their value and worth. It drives me crazy when people are so quick to judge others and justify themselves - especially when that person is me!!! Shouldn’t I know better? As my grandchildren like to say, “Oh yes you should!”

So when my feelings are hurt and my thinking is stinking, what saves my bacon is rolling up my sleeves. Do the next right thing. I have found value in doing inconvenient things for people who would not do the same for me. I find that I am better balanced when I focus on doing the next right thing without evaluating whether or not it will make a damn bit of difference.

Can we do all that we want in the age of the coronavirus? No. But there is still plenty to do. We can phone friends; we can deliver gifts to people and leave them on their doorsteps (thanks Julie for teaching me that one); we can use funny emoji’s and text people. We can try to be kind. Did I mention also that we can show up for annoying zoom meetings? (Misery loves company.)

May you find your doing groove this week!

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, Let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

1 Peter 1:13-16 The Message