“Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding.” (Prov 2:2, NASB)
One of the most worthwhile pursuits for the Christian is wisdom. James says that if you don’t have it, ask, and you will receive it. So who am I to refuse something good offered by God? It’s encouraging to find it in unexpected places, but then again, very often God reveals things to you in places and times of His own choosing, and I’m good with that. With that said, here are three people who have shown me great wisdom. (I think this will be the first in a series of posts on the topic, so this one deals with wisdom in interpersonal relationships.)
- Karen at Only Sometimes Clever. She is a homeschooling mom who happens to be a believer. On a daily basis she deals with celiac disease and various food-related conditions within her ever-growing family. As a blogger she deals masterfully with trolls who object to homeschooling, folks who don’t understand (or care about) the above-mentioned food conditions, and any number of other topics. What I appreciate is her gentle spirit when she smacks someone upside the head who desperately needs it. My favorite Karen post: The Great Divide, Jr. or Where I Stand on the OEC/YEC Debate.
- Deb (I think), at Ukok’s Place. She is a convert to Catholicism and I am a convert from Catholicism. Needless to say, we have widely differing views on the subject. She has shown me that it is possible to be a Catholic and a Christian at the same time. Her ability to deal with those who, ahem, strenuously disagree with her shows a grace and wisdom that I envy (but in a good way). My favorite Ukok post: Why Protestants can’t receive Communion in the Catholic Church. That one is now up to 169 comments and you’re sure to find something to disagree with, but I encourage you to show the same grace as your bloghost. Did I mention that she likes bacon.
- Nick Hipa, guitarist for As I Lay Dying. Beside being an incredible shredder, he shows an incredible common sense and wisdom that, well, just isn’t common in this day and age. He’s been with the band for about four years and he – and the band – have figured out that dealing with personal differences, especially in close quarters on tour or in the studio, requires constant communication of the sort that subordinates individual pet peeves. My favorite AILD tracks: I Never Wanted and An Ocean Between Us from the Ocean Between Us CD.
The thing that these three folks have in common is their understanding that people matter to God, and that they can express themselves in a way that respects the often-hidden spirit of God within others. That’s cool.
And not that it matters, but I’m directly related to two of these three…
