The Ten Tenets of Wisdom

      1.       Wisdom as sensitivity to mystery

“Wisdom itself is mystery”

Subjectively, upon hearing this deception of wisdom, the above notion pops out in my mind. To defend, I put on confidence that mystery is like a pageant. There is a part there that a contestant would be asked of something, question and answer portion in short. But the difference is I would ask the question and I would seek to answer it. Now, the mystery is I do not know if that answer of mine is really the exact thing to do or to think. Wisdom provides me enlightenment, an enlightenment that stays for a moment yet not for forever. This is also supported by Confucius about his Analects that one can be wise today but may fool tomorrow. Therefore, wisdom is a mystery because is somehow magical. A swish of a wand in a moment will make it happens and another swish will make it hides.

Objectively, if I base it to what Father Moga discussed, that it is like what Socrates said that an unexamined life is not worth living. Connecting it to mystery, therefore if people examined those mysteries happened in their life, to examine what is in it, and then it gives way to live their lives in worth.

     2.      Wisdom as ultimate knowledge of cause and reason.

“An eye on the fruit is fool. An eye on the root is fool. But an eye on both is wise.”

I observed that people always look on benefits than of looking on the consequences. They always found and came up with a decision that their eyes glued only on the result. They never considered to look at the consequences may happen along the road. That’s why when they were already on the journey; they were down because they never prepared themselves. Also, there were people who only considered consequences; they were too negative. That in the end as expected they did not win. They did not reach the finish line because they do one step forward but two step backward. So, I realized through that observation that I should consider both parties. Though I never get to have all the information of the whole wide world but at least I have known little from the various rays of the world.

Also, as to Father Moga in his example that a driver who knows how to drive but do not knows how to do the mechanics, was somehow shallow. I then thought of myself that it was not bad to have and to gain everything in a particular discipline but it was deeper if at least I have known and journeyed another road of discipline.

     3.      Wisdom as sensitivity to human life.       

                        “Savor life. Taste it whether it’s bitter or sweet well, that is life.”       

To think of sensitivity to human life, I have in mind those unexplainable emotions that Merriam dictionary could not perfectly explain, show and define. Provided by a denotative description will not ever satisfy me. Because those descriptions are not my description at all, besides she’s Merriam, I am Joanne. I have my experience that fills in my pale to describe those emotions: love, pain, understanding, justice and revenge’ etc.

The honey and coffee that when combined it’s for sure, delicious. But when wisdom is not there to help the two to meet well, thing is or the situation is different.

     4.      Wisdom as overall goal of human life.

“Love with wisdom is genuine love.”

It has been said that when you gave love, you received love. Reading between the lines, there it appears wisdom. Example a love to an enemy is like commanding yourself to jump from the world’s highest mountain. It is hard. It is painful. That even a simple swallow will take years. Such humility is hot. It burns. It sometimes dries one’s blood. However, when there is wisdom, seems yourself is on cloud nine. But to say and to act is different.

Human life is simple. People will simply sprinkle love and gather wisdom from it because that is what human life for. Created from love and in the end should be clothed with love. 

      5.      Wisdom as a broad view of human life.

Reading the example of this description makes me think of the word generosity. I called it beneficial wisdom. Wisdom not only for oneself but wisdom intended for everybody. It gives me way to have this- Provided – Remember - Share. Then, the same process will cycle, it will not be broken.

From the beginning, we are provided with everything. From the creation, there it includes food, water, shelter, air, etc., the basic of all the basic. Therefore, we are tasked to remember Him and to recognize Him as our provider. After that we have to share what is being given to us. Then, we will be assured that we are still in the cycle of same process.

On the other side of the coin, talking of sharing, one professor, shared that we own nothing to this world. So, one could not proudly claim that he has wealth when in fact his neighbor is starving. However, if we own nothing then why command of thou shall not steal?

     6.      Wisdom as good judgment.

“We have all common sense, but not common.”

Aristotle

 Hearing good judgment makes me remember Aristotle. Because I’m thinking (laughing at the back of my mind) that people struggle to look on the solution, well in fact that solution is right there in front of them. I admit. I also consider myself to be one of those blind with sight.

However there are situations that require us to really shovel the ground just to look on the right decision to do and to apply because that problem maybe is the fruit of our own foolishness. That sometimes we blame Him of those chaotic and destructible pains we have experiencing in life. Wisdom really and truly helps in solving problem. It is and it requires us to heavily look at things righteously.

      7.      Wisdom as what is important.

“We cannot climb the branches in one moment.”

Pondering on this made me think of a tree. Trees with many branches are like my desires in life. Looking at that tree, slaps my face that reality is, I cannot climb those branches in one moment. Those branches require me to choose. Those branches show me the value of how and what should be my priorities in life. Climb one branch, and climb up another therefore it is like my desires in life in order to achieve all I should climb one at a time. Seeing it requires me to be patient. I should be determined. I should not be tired if I want those desires. However, putting a paper on the line of what should be got may sometimes blind me because I may not satisfy myself since from having one, I am seeking to have another one and seek another one. To point out, wisdom will help somebody to reflect on what is really important in life. That life is not about on getting to the end immediately, not on having all but it is about on what happened along the road, it is about what matters most, it is about something personal.

     8.      Wisdom as thinking to be happy.

“Be happy.”

Truth be told, that these two words has been my sword to cut my pain and hurt. In my notebook, my room, my closet, and in my desk, I always write this word. But these words also sometimes are the cause of my pain. Because I let myself be blinded, that word is always about happiness. That nothing will cut me down if I have these words, yet it depresses me.

Sometimes life will be carried away by hard wave of the sea that it drowns somebody, because of too much believing on something. Popularity, fame and wealth, everyone dreams of it and when they have it. They will do everything to have it forever and when not they can’t forgive, maybe they can but it takes years to do such.

      9.      Wisdom as a religious dimension.

“No religion can save. Faith does.”

The above mention pops out in my mind and remembers the movie entitled, “Life of Pie.” Yes. True indeed. Having a various religion does not assure someone’s salvation. Salvation is not a paper and pencil that once you have listed your name you have already the security that your name is already registered and included on the list of those will be saved. But instead, salvation is about faith in words and actions.

Also, sometimes this religion discouraged us. Because we believed that those people involve in it or have a title in it. We think they are holy as Christ, sacred as church and see them as a walking tabernacle but to think seeing and living with them is different and when you shared your life to them. You will discover that there are also human.

      10.   Wisdom as discovering the truth.

      Wisdom is a flashlight to lighten the truth. It rays your mind. It calms everything when the truth is there. However, it is not merely turning on the flashlight that it will immediately light the truth but rather it requires miles of steps to discover it because boarders and barriers are always there.

      For me sometimes I don’t want to turn on the light because I’m afraid what is in there. I am afraid what will appear in front of me. That is why when something like this happens on me I will pray the serenity prayer. A prayer about acceptance and understanding that helps me to have courage and to have confidence to take what is there though it hurts.

      Sometimes people are being pulled by their fear that they don’t want and prefer to live in lies because they could not imagine themselves dwelling in it. In short, they have already the wisdom on it but still convincing themselves to believe it.