Hello mi neighbour! | What makes a person wise?

WHAT IF you were wise? Better yet, wiser? Maybe your bank account would have been “fatter” – don’t have to borrow, borrow. Maybe you would have surrounded yourself with better friends and laid a better foundation, etc. Maybe you would have been enjoying a better relationship with family, friends, and relatives. Maybe you would have made better decisions and choices along life’s journey. Maybe, maybe, maybe. Who to tell? Maybe you could have become a millionare/ or a billionaire.

And what if you were a millionaire or a billionaire? … another topic for another time. In the meanwhile, I do the wise thing: wisdom is defined as the application of knowledge, experience, and insight to make informed decisions and navigate life’s complexities. Ahhh.

The Bible describes wisdom as fear of the Lord, trust in God’s sovereignty, seeking counsel, walking in humility, practising self-control, etc. This involves discernment, intuition, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, etc. May wisdom aid you in digesting that mouthful.

Bredda hog’s wisdom says that the “first water you catch you should wash”. Jamaicans interpret that to mean that you should grab the first opportunity you get as you aren’t sure if another one is coming. Be careful! Human beings are far more intelligent than that. When it comes to decision-making, critical and otherwise, wisdom dictates that we consider multiple perspectives, evaluate consequences, seek advice, and anticipate experiences before signing on or off. Many are the tales told, woes felt, and setbacks experienced because wisdom was not applied to the decision-making process. Before your first step, here’s a wise question to ask yourself: What’s my next step should I miss a step? French Romantic writer and politician Victor Hugo said: “The wise man is he who knows what to do next.”

John Ruskin says, “Wisdom is not knowledge, but knowledge of what to do with knowledge.” Don’t follow the hog!

WHO IS A WISE MAN?

The wise man always tries to avoid mistakes. So he learns from them. Learning from mistakes and failures makes one wise.

Unlike the unwise, a wise person is not afraid to admit that something they once believed, was wrong. They’re not aggressive, demanding their “way or the highway”. They are open-minded and willing to sacrifice their chrerished opinions at wisdom’s behest! How admirable!

Often, whenever you encounter someone who listens more than talks, evaluates more than acts, and collaborates instead of dictates, you know that you are in the presence of someone who is wise. Those who try to put down a wise person with a mean comment are merely putting down themselves. Mean comments do not bother the truly wise the slightest. For them, it is a source of strengthen.

Who was the wisest man to have lived? Solomon, of course!

As a young king, with some amount of apprehension about how to lead his people, he started on the ‘wise foot’. He, first of all, humbled himself, confessed his inadequacies, and sought the wisdom of the Almighty to carry out the humongus task that was thrust upon him. Pleased with his request, the Eternal Father added riches, honour, and wealth to the answer. Didn’t his wisdom stun other kings, queens, and other leaders who interacted with him?

Now, I wonder, could current leaders (world and otherwise), like Solomon, rather than boasting about their ability to lead, taking pride in their achievements, presenting themselves as the “best thing since slice bread”, expecting praise, humble themselves before their Maker and ask Him for the wisdom needed to make them true leaders?

As we pray for wise leaders at all levels – home, business, and the rest of the society - may they humble themselves and do the same.

To our leaders, Great Defender,

Grant true wisdom from above …

Peace and love.

REMEMBER YOUR NEIGHBOURS WHO NEED YOUR HELP WITH:

1. Stove

2. Refrigerator

3. Bed

4. Food

5. Medication

6. Financial assistance to start a little business

To help, please call Silton Townsend @ 876 649-9636 or 876 884-3866. Email: helloneighbour@yahoo.com. Visit hellomineighbourja.blogspot.com. Townsend exclusively manages the collections and distributions mentioned in this column and is neither an employee nor agent of The Gleaner.