Is A Cauliflower A Cabbage With A PHD?

Reflections

September 20, 2009

What does it mean to be wise? Is it like art or pornography, individual in that we know it when we see it? Perhaps it is like good food, we know it when we experience it. According to the dictionary, wisdom (that is to be wise) is "characterized by marked deep understanding, keen discernment, and a capacity for sound judgment." At some level though experiencing wisdom involves perspective.

The author, Mark Twain, allegedly said of his father, "At seventeen I couldn't believe how stupid he was; then at twenty one I was amazed at how much the old man had learned." Whether true or not, Twain had different experiences of his father over time. One might say he experienced wisdom. At the very least, he wised up.

The Book of Proverbs is from the part of the Bible known as Wisdom Literature. This part of the Scripture contains poetry, aphorisms, and religious sayings. All intended to enlighten and inform people of faith. The sayings on love and service which Jesus used, along with his teachings in parables, reflect his understanding of wisdom literature.

It is true one can grow through wise sayings and learning, Biblical and otherwise. In Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar Mr. Twain writes, "Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education." Later in the text he writes, "Put all your eggs in the one basket and - WATCH THAT BASKET." Wise and thought provoking sayings.

Modern Biblical scholars have taken time to explain that throughout Proverbs wisdom is referred to in the feminine gender. Specifically, wisdom is a woman. Once author has taken the time to explain the sense of this thinking, by extolling the virtues of women's intuition and nurturing qualities. Another simply suggests that God was merely using a first person pronoun in the Proverbs reference. In a moment of enlightenment, I believe it sound judgment to end this reflection now. This wisdom stuff is grand!

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601