Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1 - Verses 20-33 called out to me the most in this chapter. It tells me that wisdom calls out (quite vocally) and that the warning is that the reader does not take the time to hear. Then, calamity comes and there is no longer any rescue available by searching for wisdom that had not been gained already. The time for learning and application has passed and the path of calamity has already been decided, until God intervenes. Alternatively, there is learning that can signal the calamity beforehand and provide the opportunity for a course correction- wisdom. The unfortunate part is that ignorance completely covers our ability to hear the calling from wisdom. We have to consciously and intentionally search to block our own ignorant attitude and try to find our ability to hear the wisdom being called out. It's there all along, but the ability to hear it might not be. It is also interesting to me how God bestows wisdom where He sees the right matter of heart. Once calamity arrives, our search for wisdom is to merely solve our own problem, but it seems that he honors our seeking wisdom more when we have no problem at all, but seek anyway knowing that we need to prepare for a future problem. When it comes to Susan, I guess I know enough to know that I don't know much about what makes her tick. Although I can sense her mood from a phone call, improve that mood in usually close to 5 minutes (although it goes the opposite way just as fast), make her feel tremendously loved with just a smile and a few words, or just sit next to her in silence for an hour and still tell that she is happy; I still know that I'll be baffled beyond my comprehension, that I'll blow it altogether at least once a week, and that I'll surely have to apologize for all amounts of unknown or at least unintended comments. But I guess this is telling me that my cries for wisdom in all of those circumstances may be all too late (for that particular moment) and that my attempts at apologies are likely won by reflection and prayer before the issue ever arises. Which means that as I go through each day, I'll learn something more about how to make this thing called marriage work, and that I'm the fool if I don't keep tabs on those outcomes and learn to improve them. Verse 32 says "the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of the fools will destroy them." I think the first half of this statement is about the hierarchy and inter-relation of God-Family-Self. Foregoing God essentially leaves you dead, and in my case, my marriage could end up dead or dying if my morals (and my responsibility to watch over Susan's) slip to less-than-godly. By not watching out for God's basic instructions in my life, I can end up killing my marriage because I am not maintaining my life in right-standing with God. Furthermore, if my marriage then starts to die, my own life, individually (which is linked then so closely to Susan's) will then wither as well. The second half of this verse tells me how to avoid all of this: do not get complacent. This means to me that I have to be intentional to avoid being lax and guard over my moral life (in large decisions and in small ones) as well as the moral life that Susan and I will soon have (liewise large and small decisions). Verse 32 seems to tell me that if I watch that part of our lives first that our survival as a couple is assured. ________________ Please feel free to tell me any of your opinions on Chapter 1 as well as what you think on my interpretation of the Word. And, you all know me well enough that you can tell me anything that you really think. Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers. -Bob