The Way of Wisdom
The journey is a long, but the end is good.
There is in our world an outcry for wisdom. Underlying our responses to recent natural disasters, unstable politics, and various acts of terror, is a strong conviction that what the world needs more than ever is wisdom. Our cultural climate permits such contradictions as “alternative facts,” and, for good or ill, many distrust the experts and dispute their data. The fate of our day, the flourishing of our future, hangs in the balance, and many know not where or upon what to hang their convictions. This confusion breeds dissatisfaction. People are beginnning to see through the charismatic leader with no substance, the political movements that are only reactionary, and the conventional wisdom of society that leaves the majority feeling empty. The world is calling out for wisdom.
A few weeks ago, as I was reading through the Book of Sirach (6:18–31), I came across a portion of text that jumped out at me. In it, Wisdom is portrayed as female — a personification popular in early Jewish wisdom writings — and her counsel is described in a fascinating way. Take a read for yourself:
18 My child, from your youth choose discipline, and when you have gray hair you will still find wisdom.
19 Come to her like one who plows and sows, and wait for her good harvest. For when you cultivate her you will toil but little, and soon you will eat of her produce.
20 She seems very harsh to the undisciplined; fools cannot remain with her.
21 She will be like a heavy stone to test them, and they will not delay in casting her aside.
22 For wisdom is like her name; she is not readily perceived by many.
23 Listen, my child, and accept my judgment; do not reject my counsel.
24 Put your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her collar.
25 Bend your shoulders and carry her, and do not fret under her bonds.
26 Come to her with all your soul, and keep her ways with all your might.
27 Search out and seek, and she will become known to you; and when you get hold of her, do not let her go.
28 For at last you will find the rest she gives, and she will be changed into joy for you.
29 Then her fetters will become for you a strong defense, and her collar a glorious robe.
30 Her yoke is a golden ornament, and her bonds a purple cord.
31 You will wear her like a glorious robe, and put her on like a splendid crown.
What caught my eye in this passage? It is this: the journey to become wise is a bumpy road. At first, the pursuit of Wisdom is hard. She feels like a task-master. But, as time goes by, the persistence pays off. The road of pain and difficulty in her pursuit becomes a path of peace and a way of rest. In the end, Wisdom shows herself to be your greatest treasure. The long journey was all worth it.
The world is calling out for wisdom. And Wisdom is calling back to us. She urges us to hear her voice and heed her counsel: “Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice” (Proverbs 1:20). What can we learn from Wisdom? What can we learn from ancient Jewish writings such as the one above? We must be patient and we must wait. We must not expect easy answers or a quick fix. We must question some of the very assumptions upon which we base our lives. We must be willing to challenge the status quo. The journey to become wise is a long and difficult one. But, ultimately, the way of Wisdom is the way to peace, wholeness, and true flourishing. Let’s commit to becoming people of Wisdom.
I conclude this short piece with one final, unpacked, point. Naturally, the Jewish wisdom tradition influenced Christianity (the latter did, after all, derive from the former). Such influence is perhaps most clearly seen in the prologue of John’s Gospel (1:1–18), which describes Jesus as the logos (Word) in similar ways to how Wisdom had earlier been portrayed. Implicit, then, in the equation of Wisdom and the Logos is the following: the clearest expression of Wisdom is Jesus. Jesus is Wisdom.
Thank you for reading. The Coffeehouse Cleric is a Medium publication dedicated to asking the big questions of life. It features writing on three main areas: minimalism, spirituality, and learning. If you enjoyed this piece and it helped you in any way, please do share it with friends.
