Tag Archives: Wisdom

What a Messy World

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What a messy world we live in.  You don’t have to look long to find an example of a difficult situation or a problem with no easy answer.

I, on the other hand, am a very cut-and-dried person. (Okay, I always thought it was “cut-and-dry” but a quick search of the internet seems to indicate it’s “dried.” Anyone know?)

Not that I don’t have and make my own messes…that’s another blog post altogether. (And doing a search of my blog seems to indicate that that is not something I talk about much.  Not surprising…who wants to talk about their sin?)

(And if I don’t keep interrupting myself with parenthetical thoughts, you might be able to follow what I’m trying to say.)

What I mean by saying I’m a cut-and-dried person is that I like to see the world in black and white.  Something’s right, or it’s not.

While I DO believe that most things are right or wrong in theory, in the field, things are muddier.

Just like all those physics problems that I’d do back in my college days.  They never were true to life, because they didn’t factor in things like wind resistance.  Game time decisions are hard to make, even after you’ve practiced play after play. (Ha! I used a physics metaphor and a sports metaphor back to back…and I’m a girl!)

I sometimes get myself in trouble when I rigidly apply my in-theory principles to the real world.  I am not in want of opinions.  Just ask, and I’ll tell you.  But I’m forgetting that real-life situations are always messier.  This isn’t physics class–we must account for things like emotions and motives, both of which are known to be messy.

So, while there may be one clear answer or solution, it might not be the first one that pops to my little head.  I’m still learning that there’s a difference between knowledge and wisdom…the second of which I still sorely lack.

Photo by Andy Field

In Pursuit of a Friend

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girls holding handsOne day not too long ago, I looked around and saw I didn’t have very many friends.

I had noticed this situation for myself, but it came to my attention again when Jen, my friend who I spend the most time with, asked me who I share my problems with since she doesn’t hear about many from me.

In part, that’s because my life is quite problem- free (I have no idea how I was fortunate to have life so easy, though I’m not naive enough to think this will always be the case).  Another reason is that I think through problems/situations by writing, not talking them out.  Unless they’re something major, I don’t usually share them.  Other things that weigh on my heart are really other people’s situations…things I can’t really share.  But really, she’s hit on an important issue: I’m lacking in confidants.

I don’t mean this in any poor-poor-me way.  I have good friends.  In fact, I have GREAT friends.  I don’t feel like I lack people I can talk to or just be me with.  But, to be honest, there aren’t that many beyond a handful that I talk to with any regularity.  My circle is small.  In fact, it’s probably smaller than it has been at any point in my life.

I’ve never had a hard time making friends.  Every time I’m thrown in to a new situation, I come up with some pretty great buddies.  But somehow, when I left school last year (or maybe even before I left), I stopped making new friends.  My current friendships for the most part have continued to grow, and while the introvert within me is more-than-satisfied on this issue, I know that it isn’t enough.

So, with that, I’m in pursuit of a friend.  I’m going to try (I’m sure Jen will hold me to it!) to reach out to women that I want to know more, those whom I feel have a great deal of wisdom I could glean from.  I won’t know which acquaintances will turn into friends without trying, will I?

Photo by My Cute Ladybug Photography

Wisdom at Hand

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pile_of_paperI’m a disciplined person.  Ironically, I wrote a post on this subject with the exact same first line a year ago today, but I promise I’m going somewhere else with it today.  (Though as I re-read through that post, it’s oddly fitting.  I’d like to think that more has changed than just the disappearance of that pile of shoes!)

I like to be on top of the various parts of my life.  I like to have a neat, clean apartment.  I like to be a good curriculumer (yes, I also like to believe I can make up words) and teacher.  I like to be a good whatever-you-wanna-call-me at work.  I like to be a good friend.  I like to be a good blogger.

Yet it’s incredibly difficult, nigh impossible, to keep up with each of these things all at once.  It feels like balancing plates, or whack-a-mole, or trying to stop up a leak.  Sometimes my analytical mind wishes that I had a computer program that knew exactly the weight and timeliness of each task and would put them in order, and I could just do the the next thing on the list.  That way, even if not everything was done, the most important things would be.  I just haven’t been able to create an efficient way of knowing how to put everything exactly in it’s place.

But really, this isn’t as difficult as I make it out to be.  Though I might want to be perfect at everything, it’s likely not what God has for me.  He promises wisdom if I ask for it.  I believe that I simply take the time to ask Him for wisdom about my schedule and the tasks before me, He will grant it.

So my question (for myself): When was the last time I asked?

Photo by sunlightfoundation