In The Beginning ... (for WorkingOnWise at least)

<p>So, I suppose a bit of background would be a nice place to kick off this rather curious mashup of knowledge, wisdom, and opinion.<br>
WorkingOnWise.com is the accumulation of years on the namesake quest of Wisdom. Over the years, I have come to understand wisdom better. And even apply is in my life, though not nearly as consistantly or completely as I wish I had.<br>
Right off the bat I have to be clear. WorkingOnWise is an online persona I created with my very first email account on the Hotmail service back in 1996. I heard a conversation on a TV show and I reached the conclusion that I should be, am called to be, and want to be, wise. So I had better get to it. Working On Wise.<br>
Now it's been over 15 years since I started to really understand that life-defining call. And I am still working on it. I will always be working on it. There are days when, to hear me speak, you'd think me and King Solomon were best of friends. And then other days, you will look at me and wonder if I have ever seen the word in print! Yeah, always working in it, but not always wise!</p>
<p>But, spend as much time as I have in the study of, pursuit of, and even the ocassional application of, wisdom, and you learn a thing or two about it. In all fairness to God, this call was not first made in '96. It was more like '80. But '96 was the first time I actually "got it". Sorry Lord. I can't imagine the number of times and various ways I have made you shake your head. Thank you for being far far more patient than I am!<br>
So, the first thing I learned about wisdom is that it needs a compass. An anchor. A standard to be measured and tested by. And I'm sure you have guessed by now that I think that standard is the Bible. Not only do I *think* it, it's a simple undeniable truth. And your right. Using any other method besides the Bible, is only a great way to experience ever-increasing confusion. It's a whole long blog entry to fully explain that last sentence, but let me try to give you the mountaintop view so you can see some of where this is going.</p>
<p>See, people think they know the Bible when they really don't. And they think they don't when they do. And they think they know what it is and isn't, and that's not always reliable either. Add that to the simple fact that we are all sinners, all filthy rags when left to our own devices, and we all have an agenda, usually well hidden, and you get a sense for why the Bible seems to fail so often.<br>
No no, im not a bible scholar of any note. I'm just a guy who knows what he knows, knows what he doesn't know, and is ok with being corrected. And I know who really does know EVERYTHING. I insist on being accurate. Right. Correct. Not right because I say so. Right because it's right. Accurate. See, if I think the water is cold, and you insist it's boiling, and I'm reaching for a boiled potato, what's more important? Me being "right" or me having accurate beliefs about the water? Right loses to accuracy here, if right is predicated on my belief being the one to win the conflict. No matter what I believe, if I reach my hand in for that potato I WILL get burned, and no amount of *right* will prevent the blisters!<br>
So when I say the Bible is the compass and measure for wisdom, I mean the Bible. Not my pastors interpretation of it. Or my granny Jeanette. Or the Pope's. Or my own. Or even King James! I mean the Bible, raw and in the flesh. This is another blog entry as well, but like most books, the Bible usually can not be picked apart and read selectively and skimmed over, and expect it to glean much use to the reader. Like most books, there is much more to it, and to read it like it's some kind of kids story or travel pamphlet only sets the reader up for confusion failure and frustration. Doesn't all that sound familiar when the Bible gets involved?<br>
The other thing I learned long long ago is to invite correction. Not condemnation and putative judgment. Try that for very long and you will get a reminder of the fact that I did grow up in the ghetto. No, I mean correction. Like the boiling water. If I was a kid and my mom saw me doing that, she'd smack my hand hard. I'd be mad she hit me. Then I'd touch my potatoe to start eating it. And *whoa mamma that sucker is HOT!* ohhhh, boiled potato, hot water. I get it! And I would be blister free enjoying my yummy potatoes. That's correction. Of course, she might have just yelled and belittled me, telling me there is something wrong with me for not learning the first time, but not doing anything to really help teach me the lesson I clearly still needed to learn. That's condemnation and punative judgement. No one learns. Feelings get hurt. Relationships get fractured. And most likely, I get blisters, and no potato!<br>
If we are going to get more wisdom, it will happen in part because we welcome correction.</p>
<p>Wisdom is a tangible commodity. Not unlike many other skills. A mechanic gets "rusty" when he goes a few months without turning a wrench, troubleshooting a problem, or evaluating a customer concern. A dancers balance is a little off after a few weeks of not being in the dance studio. And wise men get a little sideways when they don't regularly apply the wisdom given to them. And that's where this blog begins. Applying wisdom, reasoning together and encouraging all of us to think past our own limitations fears and traditions. Wisdom applied is wisdom gained, and iron sharpens iron.<br>
So, with all that said, come along for a ride where wisdom shows up.<br>
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