Wisdom is the Principal Thing -- Get Wisdom!

We have all heard the phrase “right place at the right time”. That was my daughter when she just happened to be at a conference in Hawaii and the conference director asked if she would sing a song at one of the events. Always prepared with a soundtrack back then, she did sing and belted out the lyrics like there was no tomorrow. At the back of that room was Peter Lowe, the host/director of the notorious Get Motivated Success Events that included speakers: presidents and wives, like George & Laura Bush, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Colin Powell, Margaret Thatcher, football legends like Joe Montana and , motivational speakers to the likes of Zig Ziglar and Tom Hopkins. Peter asked Staci to sing at his next event and for the next 12 years she was honored to be a part of those events around the country. That was definitely right place; right time.

But what about wrong place; wrong time? As I was reading my Facebook/OnThisDay – a few days ago, this first photo from 2012 came up along with the explanation: “ As a statement of faith, Ryan Lochte has said all year that his time has come. On Saturday evening he matched deeds to words by surging to a majestic victory over Michael Phelps in the first of their two London Olympics medley duels at the Aquatics Centre. "I feel amazing, knowing that for the last four years I have put in all that hard work. I have said this before, that this is my year." My comment on that post read "Lochte sets a great example for anyone who has a huge dream and goal: speaking the faith-filled words and putting those words to action with the hard work it takes the achieve the prize!!" Oh me!

That was in 2012. Fast forward to the 2016 Olympics when he, along with other swimmers, were returning to the Olympic Village from a party, and they stopped at a gas station to use the restroom. Days later, Rio police held a news conference and said the athletes had vandalized the restroom, breaking a soap dispenser and mirror, as well as destroying a poster outside the bathroom. There was outrage against Lochte in media accounts around the world. Wrong place; wrong time.

Some good news came a couple of weeks ago -- after 10 months of grueling investigations, enormous legal expenses and efforts to repair his name. “We are pleased that the court has finally dismissed the criminal prosecution against Mr. Lochte, while at the same time, appropriately recognizing that he committed no crime. It has been a long year, but in the end, justice prevailed,” said Jeff Ostrow, Lochte’s Florida-based attorney, in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. Good news for Lochte, but think about the implications of being at the wrong place; wrong time. At the 2016 Olympic games Lochte was ridiculed publicly for days and lost sponsors after Rio police asserted his story was a fabrication – infamously claiming one of the assailants put a gun to his forehead. The USA TODAY investigation found no evidence that the men had vandalized a bathroom at the gas station that night, as authorities had alleged. Lochte acknowledged he was intoxicated at the time and apologized for the negative attention he brought on the U.S. swim team. He was suspended from the U.S. national swim team for 10 months for his actions at the gas station, a penalty that ended July 1.

Every day we have the opportunity to be people of integrity, honor and character, and everyday we have the opportunity to be at the right place at the right time. I remember asking my mom could I go here or there and her response to me was “Let your conscience be your guide.” That simple phrase said “Be sure to be at the right place at the right time – not the wrong place at the wrong time.”

My grandson and his buddy were all hyped about the release of the latest “Star Wars” movie and decided to don their Star Wars costumes with their light sabers and run around the neighborhood to save the day for anyone in distress. What they didn’t realize that it was the wrong place at the wrong time when a concerned parent thought they could be individuals who could potentially bring harm to the children that were outside playing, so he contacted the police. The boys were confronted with “wisdom” in the form of a police officer that night.

Wisdom goes a long way when we realize that even the most innocent of intentions could be misconstrued if it’s the “wrong place at the wrong time”. Perhaps a good dose of wisdom could have saved the day and time and financial means for Ryan Lochte and I’m quite sure he would tell us that today. Perhaps, we need to hang out more with her...WISDOM!

Proverbs 4:6-7 “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”

Got WISDOM?

I'm reading the Bible through this year, but more than just reading, I'm pondering the words I read. This month I'm in the Book of Proverbs I've noticed that the central theme is found in Chapter 4:7 "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; yes, with all your getting, get understanding."

In yesterday's reading, I was inspired for today's post, especially in the light of this political whirlwind that seems to consume our media, our conversations, and our hearts. Oh, how I wish that our politicians cultivated these words in their lives. Proverbs 16:7 "When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." Verse 16: "How much better to get wisdom than gold!"

It's obvious that there is a battle going on. A battle for our hearts and our minds. There are two camps, two sides, each claiming to have wisdom. Each claiming truth. Each telling us what we need to do to be successful in our lives. Ironically, we need wisdom to choose between these two forms of wisdom. If ever we needed wisdom to determine who we believe has the most wisdom, we need it today.

So how do we get wisdom? The Apostle James is a big help in this matter. In James 1:5, he says “ Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone." This wisdom is a wisdom from God. The Old Testament prophets taught that the fear of the Lord was true wisdom. True wisdom is to look to God, to worship him with our whole being, to let Him rule and guide our lives. To let Him and His teaching be the foundation of all we do.

We’ve seen that wisdom in different people’s lives and actions. We see it in their families, generation after generation serving the Lord. We see whole families -- from the grandparents to the grandchildren all worshiping the Lord together. This is the harvest of sowing the seeds of God’s wisdom. We see it in families who live in harmony and who are able to express their love for each other and who are able to disagree with each other in healthy ways. Families and relationships that can survive through difficulties, and not just survive but thrive. We see co-workers who can sort out their differences. We see people who have a gift of bringing harmony and unity in a tense and possibly explosive situation. We see God’s grace lived out in their lives and in their interactions. We see this because these people are following a wisdom that is pure, considerate, and full of mercy, instead of a wisdom that is full of envy, bitterness, and selfish ambition. THIS wisdom is what our Country needs.

Every day of our lives we must make a choice. A choice to follow the wisdom of the world or the wisdom of heaven. It’s an important choice because it will impact not just us, not just our eternal situation, but it will also impact the generations to follow. It will impact whether we harvest a crop of disorder and evil or a harvest of righteousness. Essentially every day we must ask ourselves, “What kind of wisdom will I follow?”

Just maybe the change we desire in our country, is the change we need to start in our own homes and families. What if our little seed of wisdom was the mustard seed that God could use to start the ripple effect into our cities, our states, our country and our world?

Let there be wisdom in our Country and in our leaders......and let it begin in ME!

Learning the Art of Packing is my New Self-Improvement Goal

Day 122 of Photo Inspirations -- Learning the Art of Packing is my New Self-Improvement Goal
As my flight home from Copenhagen was earlier than my travel companions, I had to book an earlier taxi ride to the airport.  Fortunately, a sweet couple who had been on the same cruise as us, took a taxi with me.  Both of our flights were early departure -- but at different terminals.

I made my way to Air Berlin.  I knew my bag was overweight (yes, I need to learn the art of packing -- which DOESN'T include the kitchen sink).  But I was hoping for mercy by the airline representative.  Wrong.  She went by the book, and sent me to another terminal to take care of the charges.  When I got to the other terminal, the couple I rode to the airport with were standing in line there also.  Their bag was also overweight and they were "fit to be tied" -- their body language and attitude made it quite obvious how upset they were.  

I took it in stride.  I knew I deserved to pay the additional charges (and so did they).  The airlines have policies, and we broke them.  I told the couple "Let's don't let our mistakes ruin our beautiful travels.  It is what it is.  We'll know better next time, won't we?"   They calmed down, and like me, paid the additional charges.  We paid for our mistakes.

This incident reminded me of a speeding ticket I received once upon a time.   I deserved that ticket, and I had to pay the consequences.  I even asked God to forgive me for my carelessness or rather, my disobedience.

Yes, I continue to be on a self-improvement journey in more ways than one -- which also includes obeying the laws of our land AND the laws of God.  Wouldn't it make so much more sense to do the right thing the first time?  No stress and no hefty penalties.  Using wisdom is the principal thing.  Oh....and wouldn't it be splendid if businesses who charge us hefty fines for our mistakes would let us reciprocate by charging THEM hefty fines for their errors?  Case in point.....my luggage didn't arrive with me inTulsa, and, in fact, this morning....I am STILL without my luggage.  But....I will take it in stride -- I just know it's going to be a beautiful day.....anyway!

"Wisdom is the principal thing.  Get wisdom."  Proverbs 4:7