"Wisdom
brings up her children and takes care of those who look for her. Whoever
loves her loves life. Those who rise early in the morning in search of her
will be filled with joy. Whoever possesses her will
have glory and wherever he goes blessings will follow. Those who
serve her are ministers of the Holy One; those who love her are loved of the
Lord. He who listens to her will have good judgment. He who obeys
her will rest in safety. Whoever trusts in her will possess her and
his children after him will inherit her. For in the
beginning she will lead him by rough paths, causing him to fear and
be terrified; she will plague him with her discipline until she can count
on him; and she will put him to the test by her demands. Then she
will lead him on a level path, give him joy and reveal her secrets to
him. But if he wanders from the path, she will abandon him and allow
him to be lost."
Book
of Sirach
The ancient
teacher Sirach speaks of two signs that tell me when I am in the
presence of wisdom:
1) Love of
life
2) A sense of internal joy
2) A sense of internal joy
And like
that wise man, I can attest from my experience of life that wisdom's fruit--joy
and love of life--is born of trial and failure.
• I
have walked rough paths on the way to becoming the person I am today (still
in process, but gaining ground). Everything I was taught in my early life told
me I would find all the happiness I wanted, or at least could hope for in this
"veil of tears," within my chosen vocation. I didn't.
• I
have passed though the fire of fear and terror. It hasn't ended but fear no
longer has me by the throat.
• "She
will put him to the test." Over thirty years ago, I sloughed off the
safety net that kept me in a comfortable prison. What amazes me even now is
that, all the while, I was loving and serving the Lord and making a positive
difference in some peoples' lives. Dare I say, many? This is a testament to
God's ability to change crumbs into a feast.
• "Then
. . ." comes the "level path" of joy, insights, secrets
revealed. In this last portion of my life, I am putting things
together, making spiritual and psychological connections as never before.
These may be
signs that I am at last growing in wisdom.
Copyright (c) Alfred J. Garrotto
All rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment