Clergy Connexion July 2022

NUMINOUS --Wisdom Calling

Written by Renni Morris

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 (NRSV) 1 Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? 2 On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; 3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: 4 ”To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.

Wisdom’s Part in Creation

22 The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts oflong ago. 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth – 26 when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world’s first bits of soil. 27 When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains ofthe deep, 29 when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.

Confession: I watched more television than usual during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the beginning, I caught up on the series I previously watched. Then I broadened my viewing options and watched British shows. The show that took the most time – and the one that had the most to teach me – is Call the Midwife.

The show has lasted 11 seasons so far and has about 95 episodes. Based on a true story about midwives and families in 1950s East End London, it is set in an Episcopal convent called Nonnatus House. As Call the Midwife progresses from the 1950s into the 1960s, characters deal with hardship and challenges including (but not limited to) learning disabilities, unexploded bombs remaining for World War II, race, infant loss, illnesses, domestic violence, suicide, and mental illness.

I don’t cry over TV shows or movies, but I’ll admit I shed a tear in almost every episode of Call the Midwife. Bear with me … .

Each midwife touches me in a different way: Trixie comes up with off the wall solutions to problems.

Sheila is steadfast and empathetic. Sister Julienne offers firm guidance in the most loving of ways. Sister Frances is a fearless advocate. Sister Hilda is bossy and resistant, but she’s ultimately going to listen carefully and fight for her patients. Lucille calls each patient “precious,” and she never leaves them, even when she is struggling herself.

In the midst of each crisis, you will see a nurse or midwife on a bicycle, heading into uncertain circumstances – unless it’s Phyllis and she has a car. The midwives arrive at the worst possible moment, knock on the door, then say, “Midwife calling.” They enter with an abundance of wisdom, peace, and anything else that is needed.

The midwives embody a wisdom that reminds me of what the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit offer us. Whatever our circumstances, wisdom is calling. Wisdom is always present, and it has been since the beginning of time.

I long to hear (knock, knock, knock) “Wisdom calling!” I want to recognize the wisdom of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

What Is Wisdom?

Richard Foster, a Quaker minister and writer, says that “Wisdom … is far more than knowledge or information, more even than truth; it is truth applied to the heart and the mind in such a living way that the person is transformed.” Foster also describes it as a “knowing and inflowing of God himself.”

Wisdom is more than technical skill or simple cleverness. It’s more than the practical skill of coping with life or proper ethical conduct.

Wisdom belongs to God. While it is associated with creation, it also to experience and self-control (especially in speech). It calls for honesty and diligence. Wisdom brings life while folly brings destruction.

Wisdom reveals itself in exemplary conduct. It is peaceable, full of mercy and good fruits. It is kind and useful to society. Wisdom is careful but unafraid. It accepts good advice and avoids evil. It restrains emotion, it is not proud, and it desires good rather than evil.

In his book Seasons of the Soul, Bruce Demarest says, “Wisdom is intensely practical. People of wisdom honor their parents, speak judiciously, labor diligently and treat subordinates fairly. They handle money prudently, give generously to the needy and flee immorality. In a crowded world of diminishing resources, wise folks leave a small carbon footprint (pollution) embedded on the earth. Wise people honor God with their whole lives – hence the link between wisdom and fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). Ultimately, wisdom is centered in Jesus Christ – ‘the power of God and the wisdom of God’. The truly wise person understands that Christ infinitely overshadows every earthly reality.”

Wisdom and discernment go hand in hand. Discernment empowers us to sift through the clutter until understanding and sound judgment are found. Demarest says it leads us to reoriented lives that look behind newspaper headlines and opinion polls so that we see the true state of affairs. Wise people understand that there are no political solutions to spiritual problems and that how we live spiritually affects us socially, politically, and economically. Wise people accept that life is not black and white. Life is filled with many shades of gray so as we grow in wisdom, we respect the complexities, ambiguities and paradoxes of life.

Wisdom is present in the book of Genesis when the serpent stalks Eve. It is found in the book of Job when Job is certain God and wisdom are at work, but no one else understands what is going on. King David told Solomon about the urgent need for wisdom. Wisdom is inexhaustible treasure that reminds us that those who acquire wisdom win God’s friendship. Jesus tells many wisdom stories everywhere he goes.

While wisdom has been present since the beginning, it is also present in the chaos of our present lives.

A recent devotion in Prayers for Summertime: A Manual for Prayer included a weekly prayer for wisdom: Holy Father, creator and sustaining wisdom of all that is, both in heaven and on earth, take from me those thoughts, actions, and objects that are hurtful. Give me instead those things that are profitable for me and all who seek rightly to praise you … .

In our humanity, we still hold on to thoughts, actions and objects that are hurtful. We think we know what is best and we don’t always exhibit the wisdom that comes from God alone. So, what can we do? Where is such wisdom found?

How Does Wisdom Call Us?

Prayer Our search for wisdom begins with prayer. James 1:5 (CEB) says, “But anyone who needs wisdom should ask God, whose very nature is to give to everyone without a second thought, without keeping score. Wisdom will certainly be given to those who ask.”

Set aside dedicated times to pray for wisdom but pray for wisdom throughout the day as well. While sitting at a red light or waiting in line at a store, ask God for wisdom. When a problem or crisis pops up, ask God for wisdom before responding. When sleeplessness nights are present, pray for wisdom. Ask God for wisdom and apply what wisdom teaches you.

Scripture

Focus on the Old Testament books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and some of the Psalms. As my mother-in-law aged, she began a practice of reading a chapter from Proverbs each day. Look for wisdom in the New Testament books of Paul and James. Wisdom is an integral part of the Bible.

A Reoriented Life

A search for wisdom leads to reoriented lives. As we pray and read scripture, Demarest says we can lay aside our obsession with “information and knowledge – abundantly accessible thanks to digital technology.” Don’t just Google wisdom or read about it – live differently. Demarest encourages us to reorient our lives by making God-honoring choices and choosing to live righteously.

Acknowledge that wisdom is a rich gift of God. Ask for that gift and cultivate it. If we think wisdom as a garden, weed out what is not helpful. Fertilize the gift with prayer and scripture, spend time with wise people, avoid what pulls us away from godly wisdom. Those choices are specific to each of us. As we reorient our lives, we are continually on the lookout for what we need to lay aside.

Embrace a Trinitarian Wisdom

God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are always at work in our lives. Scripture assures us that just like the Trinity, wisdom is omnipresent – it’s always there. We can find it in the heights, the streets, at the crossroads, and at the gates. We are surrounded by holy wisdom as we come and go, wherever we congregate, and as we conduct the business of life. We just have to ask for it and wait for it to show up.

Wisdom is present in God the Father. Read the stories of Jesus and wisdom will be there. Trust that the Holy Spirit is here with us, ready to teach, correct, counsel and advocate (just like the midwives I described earlier). Galatians 5:25 reminds us that if we live by the Spirit, we can be guided by the Spirit.

Take Care

Finally, take care. Don’t ignore the need for wisdom and the gift of wisdom. Wisdom is a pure gift from God. As we pray for wisdom and spend time in Scripture – as we work with God to reorient our lives – as we embrace the Trinity in each aspect of our lives – we welcome the divine wisdom that begins to help us see the same perspective as God himself. Do what is needed to sustain that wisdom each day. Pursue wisdom.

Outcomes

As we grow in wisdom, God delights in us. Wisdom gives us the ability to handle what life throws at us. Wise decisions benefit both ourselves and others. The wisdom of Jesus gives us a power and grace that cannot be found elsewhere. Holy Spirit wisdom helps us see more from God’s perspective –through friendship with God. As the wisdom of the Holy Spirit dwells with us, it makes itself at home. Wisdom settles down and stays with us, living in the moment with us and giving us just what is needed at all times.

Knock, knock, knock – wisdom calling! Do all you can to pursue it.

Resources:

Demarest, Bruce. Seasons of the Soul: Stages of Spiritual Development. InterVarsity Press. 2009.

Foster, Richard J. Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith. 1 st HarperCollins. 1998.

Tickle, Phyllis. Prayers for Summertime: A Manual for Prayer (The Divine Hours). Doubleday. 2006.