“When the peace of God follows the purity of God's wisdom into our hearts and lives, it will affect those around us.”—David Jeremiah
One day, on a snowy morning much like the many we’ve had this week, I was cross-country skiing through a field near my home. The freshly-falling snow seemed to muffle all sounds except for the swoosh of my skis as they moved forward. But then overhead, I heard a loud “Whooo—whooo!” A beautiful owl, blending in with the snow and branches, was observing my progress. Wherever I went, the owl’s head seemed to follow, watching over every glide forward, pause, and work-around of obstacles.
As I continued on my snowy morning journey, I realized there may have been more to the moment than just a cool encounter with a beautiful woodland creature. And while swooshing in the silence, I thought…
When I grow up, if I ever really do, I want to be wise like that owl.
Someone who somehow sees life more clearly in front, to the sides, behind, and to the front again—all the time,
Who seems to know what to do, what to say, how to move, and also how and when not to do any of those.
Is that even possible?
Maybe there is a reason that the owl’s cry is “Whooooo.” Because much more than a beautiful thing to be grasped, wisdom is a Person to know and hear and obey…
“For the LORD gives skillful and godly wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6)
Maybe it wasn’t coincidence that the owl was perched high above me so that I had to look Up...
...Because when it comes right down to it, the beginning of wisdom that can be life-changing is leaning hard into the Source of all wisdom…“Reverence for the Eternal is the first step toward wisdom. All those who worship Him have a good understanding.” (Psalm 111:10)
Start there…and then look for God’s footprint, God’s breath, God’s love, in everything—the big decisions of life and the day-to-day, the forks in the road, and in the arts and at the games, at the jobsite, out in creation, and in conservations and observations at the coffee shop and at the recycling center.
Sometimes, it’s hard to find God’s wisdom in the news, but it’s there, somewhere, too.
And if I look and listen carefully, it can come through other people,
Even those who see life differently than I do.
It’s especially in that dog-eared book filled with wonderful words of life...
“The teachings of the Lord are perfect; they give new strength. The rules of the Lord can be trusted; they make plain people wise.” (Psalm 19:7)
Amen to that!
But He not only speaks through the pages of that book, but everywhere.
Like here in this snowy field…if only I will listen.
Is that even possible?
“If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking.” (James 1:5)
And I don’t even have to be grown up to qualify! Or an owl.
Just to remember, as the wisest Man who ever walked the earth said, ”follow Me.”
The world, even my own little world, will be better for it.
Swoosh….
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