What is wisdom? When we have talked about it in class, it divides into experiential wisdom and mantic wisdom. We've also defined it as this extensively (nearly exhaustive) list of characteristics- from "unpolluted" to "irresistible" is the book, Wisdom of Solomon and appears in other books, like Proverbs and Sirach as well. And I ask myself, what does that mean for us? If we try to take lessons from these texts and think about them in relation to our lives, what have I learned about wisdom and myself?
The most valuable (albeit sometimes painful) lessons I have learned are from my experiences. Be the experiences failed attempts or important accomplishments, it is certain that experience is a good teacher. But, when I reflect on this, there are things that I do and consistently have bad outcomes, but I continue doing the same thing. Take for example cutting my hair short. Every few years I decide to cut my hair shorter, and I always hate it. I usually end up looking younger and my cheeks look even rounder. So why on earth do I do it? Perhaps that is me denying Wisdom.
I don't really know what mantic wisdom would look like for me, but the closest thing that I have experienced is probably intuition. I do occasionally have gut feelings, and they are almost unfailingly right on- but I don't really think that's mantic wisdom. But I suppose it could be God. Truthfully I've never really thought about whether it was God or some other "force"- but I usually trust it. I can deny it for some period of time, but it always comes back.
So what does this teach me? Experiential wisdom is important. Mantic wisdom is something I haven't experienced. When you can discern what it is, choose wisdom.
The most valuable (albeit sometimes painful) lessons I have learned are from my experiences. Be the experiences failed attempts or important accomplishments, it is certain that experience is a good teacher. But, when I reflect on this, there are things that I do and consistently have bad outcomes, but I continue doing the same thing. Take for example cutting my hair short. Every few years I decide to cut my hair shorter, and I always hate it. I usually end up looking younger and my cheeks look even rounder. So why on earth do I do it? Perhaps that is me denying Wisdom.
I don't really know what mantic wisdom would look like for me, but the closest thing that I have experienced is probably intuition. I do occasionally have gut feelings, and they are almost unfailingly right on- but I don't really think that's mantic wisdom. But I suppose it could be God. Truthfully I've never really thought about whether it was God or some other "force"- but I usually trust it. I can deny it for some period of time, but it always comes back.
So what does this teach me? Experiential wisdom is important. Mantic wisdom is something I haven't experienced. When you can discern what it is, choose wisdom.
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