Charge!

Wisdom and Pants!

Hi Friend,

‘Tis the season for graduating from institutions for leaning stuff. Here’s a charge for graduates:

A Charge for a Graduate- Words of Wisdom

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; 
all those who practice it have a good understanding. 
His praise endures forever.
		-Psalm 111:10

Wisdom seldom comes from words.
Rather, wisdom wears words like denim.
It pinches and pokes,
creases and crunches,
It is stiff and dispassionate.

But, over time, 
through repeated motions,
natural circumstances,
and rounds of wash,
the words of wisdom 
wear themselves 
personally and uniquely
into a comfortable fit.

There are those who would 
sell you ‘wisdom’ interwoven 
with spandex and plastics.
They promise quick fits
without the struggle,
without the investment,
without the effort.
Such ‘wisdom’ may fit snug,
but it will only serve you
as long as you conform
to their expectations.


Wisdom is like a denim
jacket your parents wore
and passed along to you.
At first, it’s terribly lame.
Then one day, it’s the coolest
item of clothing you own.
Later, it’s all you have
to remember them.


There are those who would
sell you wisdom
for the moment, 
fast fashion
tied together with cheap
threads from social influencers.
Wearing their words will
seem trendy at the time, 
but such plots will unravel,
and logical tears will 
reveal their lesser quality.



Wisdom is like a pair of blue jeans;
Some folks just have jorts.



Practice leaves you weary.
Practice causes aches.
Practice is boring,
a joke,
a consumer of time.
Practice is repetitious.
Practice breaks the flow
of your schedule.
Practice demands effort.
Practice insists upon
being seen in relationship
with a larger context.
So practice.
Even when others don’t,
Practice.
Even when others won’t,
Practice.
Practice your faith.
Practice grace.
Practice loving your neighbor
by loving yourself.

Remember that the divine loves you.
Remember that the divine knows you.
Remember that the divine claims you.
Remember that this is as terrifying
as it is comforting.
Remember, and wisdom will be there,
like denim in a closet.

In wordy wordiness,

Walter