don't be impressed

Today is January 11, and you can listen to today's readings by clicking HERE for the OT and HERE for the NT. CLICK HERE to hear someone else read it.

Today's thoughts from the reading are simple. Don't be impressed by your own understanding. Instead, be like the cat in the pic above. I never noticed before that one of the few human words that cats can say is "meh", which pretty much sums up the attitude of cats, doesn't it? Pretty appropos.

But the writers of Proverbs tells us not to be impressed with our understanding. This reminds us of Socrates, who told us that wisdom is realizing that we know nothing. The Proverbs writer goes on to say that we should instead fear God, which is, according to Proverbs, the beginning of wisdom. So we find some profound agreement between Proverbs and Socrates.

So if we're not to be impressed with our own knowledge, then what should we focus on? With what SHOULD we be impressed? Well, as I'm sure you're aware, the most boring people to talk to are generally those who are impressed with their own knowledge. The people who "know it all" and can't be taught anything. Who always have a better story to top whatever story you tell.

On the other hand, it's so easy to talk to people who are genuinely interested in YOU. People who listen to what you have to say like it's fascinating. People who can't seem to get enough of you.

That second group, of course, is practicing love. They are being kind in how they treat others - the way they want to be treated. So if we follow the advice of Proverbs, and become less enchanted with our own ideas, and learn to listen to others more and become students of life instead of erstwhile teachers to bored students who'd rather be elsewhere, then we not only become holier, we become more interesting.

And I think we find that's the case with all areas of our lives. The holier we are, the more interesting we become.

God, thank You for teaching us to be holy - by being less impressed with ourselves.